Trainer Clarry Conners is hoping lightly-raced filly Day Performer can make the most of likely heavy conditions and go one better at Kembla Grange on Thursday.
The daughter of Swiss Ace is chasing a breakthrough success in the Craig Carmody Maiden Handicap (1200m) second-up after finishing off strongly when runner-up to Defiant Heart on a heavy track at Gosford on June 10.
Day Performer warms up for Brenton Avdulla. Image by Bradley Photographers
"I think she should run well again after I thought she was a bit unlucky the other day," Conners said.
"We drew barrier two and the favourite drew barrier one so I thought we would be sitting outside the favourite in the run but ended up sitting behind it and he stopped in her face.
"The thing that won kicked up outside us and was gone by the time we got out. When she got out, I thought she hit the line strongly."
The fresh run was the second time in three career starts that Day Performer has finished runner-up and both placings coming on rain-affected going.
The filly has continued to improve with racing and Conners believes she can make the step up to metropolitan grade in time.
Thursday's assignment is set to give the Warwick Farm trainer further valuable intel about what to do next with his three-year-old.
"She might get up over 1400m in time but she can be a bit keen and is not a big filly," Conners said. "We will see how she goes at the races on Thursday on a big track over the 1200m, it could be a bit of a slog on the wet track.
"She will handle the track. She has handled it fine in a couple of her other races."
Day Performer is rated a $6.50 contender with TAB for Thursday's event with jockey Mikayla Weir set to pilot the filly for the first time under race conditions.
Meanwhile, trainer John O'Shea confirmed it was 'highly unlikely' that race favourite and first starter I Am Lethal ($2.70) would make his debut on a rain-affected track.
Kembla Grange was rated a heavy (8) on Wednesday with up to 5mm of rain forecast on raceday by the Bureau of Meteorology.
I Am Lethal is by super sire I Am Invincible out of O'Shea's former star mare Steps In Time who was multiple Group 2 winner during her time with O'Shea after claiming back-to-back victories in the Breeders' Classic, now Hot Danish Stakes, in 2012 and 2013 while under his care.
O'Shea was forced to give up the training duties of Steps In Time when he was taking over as head trainer at Darley and the mare went on to claim a Group 1 Coolmore Classic under new trainer Joseph Pride in 2014 before being retired to stud.
The opening event of the six-race card jumps at 1.20pm.
View the final fields with full form & race replays for Kembla Grange here