The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr training partnership has opted to keep Storm Season in Melbourne for her reappearance run.
While Storm Season was accepted for the Petaluma Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday, the stable has chosen to start the mare in the Sportsbet Race Replays Handicap (1400m) at Sandown instead.
A lightly raced daughter of Toronado, Storm Season has not been seen since early December, when she was successful over 1500m at Caulfield Heath. This victory followed her initial win at Kembla Grange.
Kent Jnr commented that Storm Season sustained a minor injury following her two-race summer campaign but has since trialled effectively in preparation for her return to racing.
The co-trainer admitted that the heavy track conditions at Sandown represent an unknown factor for the mare, who previously achieved a placing on soft ground at Morphettville in May last year.
“She won both her starts last time in and then she pulled up with an injury after her Caulfield victory, so we gave her some time out,” Kent Jnr said.
“She’s come up really well and typically goes well fresh. She’s trialled well twice, she’s drawn to get the right run, off the speed and off the fence.”
“The big unknown is it will be her first go on heavy ground and the race club is predicting anywhere from four to 15 mils of rain on race day.
“So, come the last (race), hopefully we avoid it. If they do get 15 mils of rain, that track might be pretty dire on Saturday, which could dent the confidence quite a bit, but if we miss a lot of it, then I think she’s a nice chance.
“Yes, she will improve for absolute race fitness, but she is a big mare that will enjoy that big track at Sandown.”
Apprentice Logan Bates will ride Storm Season for the first time and will claim 1.5kg, reducing her weight to 57.5kg.
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