The recent retirement of veteran Maluckyday and injury to Arabian Gold in the Queensland Oaks have put a dent in the racing fortunes of their owner Nick Moraitis.
Trainer Joe Pride is hoping Destiny’s Kiss can give Moraitis something to smile about this weekend.
Pride is inclined to keep Destiny’s Kiss in Sydney for the Stayers Cup (3200m) at Randwick on Saturday rather than send him to Queensland for the Group Two Brisbane Cup (2400m).
He believes the Randwick surface may be more forgiving and also has an ambition of his own to fulfil.
“I’ve never had a two mile winner before. In fact I don’t think I’ve ever had a two mile runner so I’m keen to tick that box,” Pride said.
“I want a softer track for him and it looks as if that will be Randwick.
“He has come through his last run really well and Josh Parr rides him again.”
Destiny’s Kiss has never raced over 3200 metres but has recorded a win over 2400 in last year’s Winter Cup.
He goes into his next race off a last-start second over that distance to emerging star La Amistad in the McKell Cup.
Maluckyday, who ran second to Americain in the 2010 Melbourne Cup for the Hawkes training team, has been retired and will be trained as an eventing horse.
He failed to register a placing in eight starts for Pride who said he had lost his zest for racing.
“It was an uphill battle,” Pride said.
“He was fit and well but had lost his enthusiasm and was only racing half heartedly.”
Like Destiny’s Kiss, Keep Cool is another Moraitis-owned horse who has come to Pride from a Melbourne stable in an attempt to rejuvenate his career.
The seven-year-old finished ninth, beaten just 2-1/2 lengths in an 1800m open handicap at Rosehill on Saturday, an effort Pride admitted was a little disappointing.
But he has come through well and could back up over 1600m on Saturday.
“I was a bit disappointed but he has come through OK so I am leaning towards backing him up,” he said.
The David Vandyke-trained Arabian Gold, second in the Queensland Oaks, has been found to have a badly bruised foot after scans ruled out any fractures.
– AAP