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By Ray Hickson

Trainer John O’Shea is sure there are bigger and better things ahead for lightly raced pair Killer Instinct and Rocha Clock beyond Wednesday’s Kensington assignments.

But O’Shea says the midweek fixture is playing an important stepping stone role.

Take Killer Instinct for example. The mare, being set for a couple of early autumn Group races, is chasing her fourth straight win in the Bisley Workwear Handicap (1550m), where she’s a $4 chance with TAB, after a first-up victory at Newcastle that wasn’t expected.

“Prior to winning first-up at 1400m she’d never won under 1800m so whenever they do that it’s a bonus,’’ O’Shea said.

“She didn’t have a lot of luck in her first preparation but when she did get a bit of luck she’s put a few together.

“She’s improved and is getting out to a trip she likes so hopefully she can continue on.’’

Killer Instinct wins at Newcastle on December 1

Billy Owen, who rode the four-year-old to her first-up win, takes 3kg off so the mare only rises 0.5kg on Wednesday.

Killer Instinct’s goals in early 2020 are the Group 3 Aspiration Quality (1600m) at Randwick on March 7 and the Group 3 Epona Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill two weeks later.

It’s been almost seven weeks since Rocha Clock made a winning debut at Newcastle where she produced a remarkable performance to score.

The filly missed the start and had to work hard to circle the field and land on the speed, she then held off subsequent city winner Earth Song.

“She’s a pretty talented filly, she has a bit of a mind of her own,’’ O’Shea said.

“When she won I thought she had a hard run so I wanted to give her a trial to get over that and have a good day out.’’

Rocha Clock’s Hawkesbury trial 16 days after her debut was a good day out but she then went to Kembla Grange and was a late scratching at the barrier at the end of November so had to return to the trials last week.

O’Shea said the TAB Handicap (1400m), where she’s $2.90 favourite with TAB, may be throwing her in the deep end but he leaves no doubt about his opinion of the three-year-old.

“A lot of those horses will still be going around in midweek 70s in a year’s time but she won’t be,’’ he said.

“She hasn’t had a lot of continuity to her program but now it is about racing her and teaching her the craft.’’

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's Kensington meeting at Randwick