Kiss Your Song has struck a purple patch of form since his first win, but he will have to lift his game when he lines up against stronger opposition in Friday’s $80,000 Class 3 race over 1100m on Polytrack.
The Your Song four-year-old has long been one of those horses who are always in the mix, but just can’t find that little extra to hit the nail on the head.
At his first 11 starts, he chalked up four seconds, three thirds and two fourths for trainer Shane Baertschiger and the Bingo Stable, but ever since he broke the duck in a Restricted Maiden race over 1100m on July 6, he seems to have found his swagger.
Risen in class, he followed up with an even more impressive win in a Class 4 Premier race over 1000m next, but Friday’s contest may well be a bridge too far.
“He is up in grade and Nowyousee looks hard to beat. It’s going to be much tougher this time,” said Baertschiger.
“That first win had been a long time coming, and then he won even more easily at his next start.
“There is no doubt he just needed that win on the board to get his confidence. He has trained on since, and has been working well.
“But not only the field is stronger, but he has also drawn a wide gate (13). This will be his biggest test by far.”
Kiss Your Song recorded his two wins with stable jockey John Powell, but with the handicap at 53.5kgs, the Australian heavyweight rider had to give way to the stable No 2 jockey Matthew Kellady. Powell will ride Mark Eclipse for trainer Steven Burridge instead.
“Matty knows the horse well even if he’s never won on him. He’s ridden him a few times (five) and has come close once or twice,” said Baertschiger.
“But from the tricky barrier and in such a strong race, Matty will have to work some magic.”
Kellady agreed that it will take something special to make it three-in-a-row for Kiss Your Song, but he was banking on the gelding’s faultless form to still come through, especially when wins have dried up a little for the Ipoh-born jockey.
“No doubt, he’s got his job cut out this time, but the horse has still been working very well, and he carries a light weight,” said Kellady whose last victory (No 10 for 2018) was Galileo’s Approach on June 3.
“With a bit of luck, you never know. Nowyousee is the standout, but the others are not unbeatable.
“I’ve ridden him a few times and he’s pretty straightforward, even if he can be a bit of a hard-going horse at times, but if we can get in with some cover in the running, he may still put his head through.
“I’ve got three other rides, another one for Shane, Lincoln City who along with Lincoln Moonlight will be at their first runs. The other horse is more forward while mine seems to be pretty laid back and may need another run.
“I don’t know the other two horses I’m riding, Hunting Tower and Sonoran, both for Steven Burridge. He asked me if I could ride them and I was of course up for it.
“I’ll have a look at their past races. They seem to be horses on the improve and with a bit of luck, I hope one of them can pop up as it’s been a while since my last winner.”
