Trainer Simon Miller is confident progressive sprinter It’sarayday will take another step towards The Pinnacles by winning tomorrow afternoon’s TABtouch Better Your Bet Handicap (1200m).
The gelding did just enough to win at Belmont last start, to take his record to five wins from eight starts.
He faces a tougher test tomorrow afternoon, but Simon Miller said he expected the three-year-old to be fighting out the finish again.
“He’s down in weight, he’s up in grade a bit, a similar race over 1200 and drawn a nice easy gate,” Miller told TABradio.
“It all looks and maps that suggests it’s him again.
“He’s been really good behind the scenes.”
It’sarayday, to be ridden by Patrick Carbery, is the $2.70 favourite for the final event on the nine-race card at Belmont and faces the likes of stablemate Angelic Miss, Bright Diamond and Secret Plan.
The Fairetha Stakes (1400m) winner is being aimed towards the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) on the third day of The Pinnacles later this year.
Miller said It’sarayday was on an “upward spiral” and hinted he could extend his preparation to the Listed Beaufine Stakes (1000m) on July 9 as he seeks to solidify a spot in the Group 1 sprint.
“I’ll probably just work through it after the weekend,” he said.
“It does sound like a really good option, it’s just whether it doesn’t give me enough time to have a proper spell from the Beaufine leading into the summer carnival.
“I want to give him a month to six weeks out if I can.”
Angelic Miss, a multiple Listed race winner, is second-up in tomorrow afternoon’s event, following her first-up third to Bright Diamond over 1000m on June 11.
Miller said while he favoured It’sarayday, he expected sharp improvement from the mare.
“She just couldn’t go with him over 1000 the other day,” he said.
“That was probably the only slight query and it didn’t work.
“I just wanted to have a look. She will be storming through the line.”
Meanwhile, Miller said he was still leaning towards aiming Karrakatta Plate (1200m) winner Amelia’s Jewel at the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) during The Pinnacles Series.
The in-form trainer admitted the Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) and Winterbottom Stakes were also on the radar, but felt the Group 1 over the longer trip would suit the filly.