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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Mark Minervini may have stumbled on the edge he needs for consistent mare Star Impact to post a breakthrough city win at Kensington on Wednesday.

Through washouts and wide barriers, Star Impact went five weeks between her resumption and her easy second-up win so Minervini elected to keep her on the fresher side for The Agency Real Estate Handicap (1550m).

Trainer Mark Minervini (Pic: Bradley Photos)

It’s now been almost four weeks since she handled the jump from 1250m first-up to the mile at Newcastle with ease to post her fourth win for the stable.

“I thought she was very dominant, maybe in the past I’ve kept her a fortnight apart and that might have been too close,’’ Minervini said.

“She’s been terrific for our stable. We bought her for $12,000 online. I think the race suits her.

“Aaron Bullock has got the key to her but he was going to go to Grafton before he got injured, I’m sure Nash will give her every chance.”

Bullock has been on board the five-year-old in her past three wins but with Nash Rawiller just three wins shy of James McDonald in the jockey premiership race the trainer couldn’t think of a better replacement.

He said he’d like to see a bit of tempo on early to allow Star Impact to relax off the speed and give Rawiller something to work with at the business end.

“When she jumped the other week I reckon after they’d gone two furlongs it was game over, she was never going to get beaten,’’ he said.

“She travelled really well, Aaron seems to have the key to her in that he lets her travel early and finish off.

“We have had her up on the speed in the past but I think she’s much better ridden a bit quieter and able to finish off.

“Hopefully there’ll be a good bit of speed and he can let it unfold then chase them home.”

Star Impact, $7.50 with TAB on Tuesday, has a couple of metropolitan placings on her record including a second over 1400m at Kensington last winter.

While she was unplaced first-up at the same track Minervini said it was over an unsuitable trip and on the back of that last start win at home it’s the right time to give her another shot.

“She’s been around the mark, if she could tick off that city win she deserves it,’’ he said.

“She’s good enough to be able to do that and I thought she was over the odds.

“I think she’s going there with form as good as the others. She just needs an ounce of luck, and a good ride and I’m sure he’ll do that, and she can be right in the finish.”

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Kensington meeting