Destiny’s Kiss to stay the distance

Destiny’s Kiss (centre) will attempt to win his second Stayer’s Cup, five years after his first.

Having produced a season highlight in the Winter Cup, Destiny’s Kiss is most likely to be tested over 3200 metres in the Stayer’s Cup at Rosehill rather than the shorter Kensei Handicap.

The 10-year-old produced a withering finishing burst to claim the Winter Cup over 2400m in a photo from Yogi last Saturday week.

Trainer Joe Pride also nominated Destiny’s Kiss for the Kensei (2000m) but is favouring the longer race on Saturday.

“He attempted the Stayer’s Cup last year but this time I think he’s got the right preparation for 3200 metres,” Pride said.

“Everything tells me he is ready.”

Destiny’s Kiss won the 2014 Stayer’s Cup and finished third in the 2018 edition won by Plot Twist from Doukhan who is among the entries again.

Although it has been five years since his Stayer’s Cup win, that is a year less than the gap between his Winter Cup triumphs.

Apprentice Chris Williams’ three-kilogram claim means Destiny’s Kiss will carry 59.5kg on what will be a rain-affected track, the gelding’s favourite surface.

Pride has New Tipperary in the Listed Civic Stakes with the Group Three winner to have his first start since December.

Although New Tipperary has had two barrier trials, Pride is mindful of his fresh record of no wins from six attempts.

“He has never won first-up and is much better second-up so I am wary of that,” he said.

The Gerald Ryan-trained Deploy is topweight for the Civic with 59.5kg as he aims to bounce back from a luckless run in the Stradbroke Handicap.

Ryan also has Harper’s Choice in the Civic with the stablemates adept on wet tracks.

Rain in Sydney is expected to ease to showers late in the week with Rosehill in the heavy range on Tuesday.