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By Ray Hickson

A Group 1 is Kerry Parker’s major spring aim with talented mare Hope In Your Heart and as she prepares for her first-up assignment at Randwick on Saturday he’s pinpointed the Epsom Handicap as an ideal target.

The handicapper may have some bearing on that but Parker is confident she’ll receive a weight that will provide her every chance.

Hope In Your Heart had a stellar 2022-23 season winning four races up to Group 2 level, was Group 1 placed in the Queen Of The Turf and finished fourth in the Golden Eagle, Coolmore Classic and Doncaster Handicap.

“I don’t know what weight she will get in it but being a mare she will be a couple of kilos down,’’ Parker said.

“The mile at Randwick looks ideal for her so a shot at the Epsom would be lovely.

“If she was to win that then perhaps the owners might want to stay here and have a crack at the King Charles.”

The five-year-old opened her autumn campaign with a win in the Guy Walter against the mares and returns to the same course for the Group 2 $300,000 AMD Medical Tramway Stakes (1400m).

Only two mares have won the Tramway this century – Lucia Valentina in 2014 and Shania Dane in 2005 – but Parker said his mare has come back just as well if not better than the autumn.

“I think she’s come back stronger, she was always tiny and light whereas she has more condition on her now,’’ he said.

Hope In Your Heart's latest trial at Warwick Farm on August 18

“She looks like a five-year-old mare whereas before she was looking like a filly.

“She’s had her two trials, a terrific little lead up going into Saturday. Her second trial over 1200m was really nice and I can’t fault her going in.”

Tyler Schiller has the ride on Hope In Your Heart, who was $9.50 with TAB on Friday.

Parker’s headliner Think It Over is eyeing his second win in the Group 2 $300,000 Daily Press Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) and the Kembla Grange trainer is rapt with how he came through his return from injury.

The eight-year-old was only beaten 1-1/2 lengths in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) two weeks ago and a case could be made he should have been much closer if not for some tightening in the straight.

Two years ago Think It Over ran sixth in the Winx before winning the Chelmsford and Parker said he’s on track to repeat that feat.

“He’s come through that first-up run well, that was the main thing,’’ he said.

“He should have finished a bit closer as it was but he raced terrific and going into second-up he looks great and feels well in himself.”

Think It Over is being targeted at the Group 1 $5m King Charles III Stakes (1600m) on Everest Day.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting