By Ray Hickson
There’s an air of excitement from trainer Tracey Bartley about emerging three-year-old Kiss Sum as the gelding takes an important step towards the Four Pillars at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Kiss Sum and stablemate Barossa Rosa already have slots secured for the $700,000 Midway’s inaugural running on October 30 so Bartley has the luxury of deliberately plotting a path.
After an easy first-up win over 1000m at Wyong, Kiss Sum makes his city debut in the Vinery Handicap (1300m).
“His next run will be over 1400m then it will be 10 days into the Pillars. Because we got picked up early, for both horses, it’s been good,’’ Bartley said.
“She (Barossa Rosa) runs next Saturday and then she will be a fortnight into the race. She will need a tough run and that will put her in good stead to run the 1500m.”
While Kiss Sum is being asked to jump 300m on his first-up win Bartley is quick to point out the Wyong victory on September 21 was essentially a second barrier trial.
He picked up $22,000 for that ‘trial’ where he gave backers very little cause for worry rounding up six rivals and scoring by almost two lengths.
Kiss Sum wins at Wyong on September 21
“He’s bounced off that first-up win well and we’ve put a fair bit of work into him since. He was a little bit fresh,’’ he said.
“He’s trained on well and galloped really good on Friday morning.
“He has good ability and we're excited about Wednesday, I think he will stamp himself really well.”
Jason Collett again rides Kiss Sum, $3.70 with TAB on Tuesday, at Rosehill in a race with a number of up and coming young horses also with impressive wins against their names.
They include Godolphin’s Depiction who scored a runaway first-up win at Newcastle and the Kris Lees-trained Zetarita, who defeated subsequent city winner Hoover Lucy at her latest start.
Bartley expects his charge to be ridden in a similar manner to his first-up win which he says will allow the horse to best produce his sprint.
“I’m not sure of the speed in the race but we will just ride him where he travels,’’ he said.
“He’s such a laid back customer and I don’t have any worries about the trip. He just relaxes and wants to be further back.
“Jason had to chase him up the other day so I think just riding him conservatively he has a great turn of foot. If he can be relaxed early and do nothing on him I’m sure he can reel off a last 600m.”
Meanwhile, Bartley said the third of his Four Pillars nominations Miss Redoble has gone to the paddock and is not in contention for the race.
All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's Rosehill meeting