The postponement of Saturday’s Chautauqua Stakes, which some thought might have been a missed opportunity for Persian Spirit, was not necessarily seen that way by his trainer Symon Wilde.

The Cable Bay gelding had been backed into $2.40 after the skies opened before the 1300-metre Group 3 race, which was eventually called off due to lightning and heavy rain forcing an early end to the day’s racing.

While Persian Spirit has a prior win on a Heavy track and was considered to benefit from Saturday’s downpour, Wilde’s confidence was not as significantly boosted as the punters.

“I actually prefer him on dry ground because he’s more dynamic,” Wilde commented.

“You’d never scratch him on a wet track, but I actually think he’s at his absolute best on a (Soft) 5 or a 6.”

The Chautauqua Stakes will now be contested this Wednesday at Sandown, alongside the 1600m benchmark 84 race that was also lost on Saturday.

Persian Spirit is once again the favourite for the rescheduled running, priced at $3.20, with Tennessee Bound at $4.20 and Warnie on the third line at $5.

Sandown was rated a Heavy 8 on Monday morning, but sunny conditions are predicted for Melbourne on Monday afternoon and Tuesday, with a chance of showers on Wednesday.

The race rescheduling means two trips to Sandown from Warrnambool in five days for Persian Spirit, but Wilde indicated the first trip did not appear to have impacted him.

“We gave him a little bit of evens on the grass this morning at Warrnambool and he’s all set to go,” Wilde said on Monday morning.

“He was out in his paddock yesterday, he’ll go the beach tomorrow and he’s eating up well.

“It doesn’t look like it’s knocked him around at all.”

Wilde’s initial intention was to aim for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) the following Saturday after the Chautauqua Stakes. He mentioned that while the new timing is not ideal, he would likely proceed with the Group 1 opportunity if the horse performs well on Wednesday.

Persian Spirit commenced his campaign with a narrow second placing to Shadhavar in the Listed Regal Roller (1200m) at Caulfield on August 15.

“That was always the aim, to be third up in the Rupert Clarke,” Wilde stated.

“We planned to be first-up then three weeks then two weeks into the 1400 metres.

“It’s definitely not ideal but if he happened to win on Wednesday we’ll probably stick to that plan.”

With the Chautauqua Stakes rescheduled for Wednesday, punters can assess the racing odds at various Australian betting sites.