A win for Glorious Dream on Wednesday could see Luke Pepper push for a slot in the $1.3 million The Kosciuszko.
Canberra-based trainer Luke Pepper believes a win at Kensington on Wednesday can catapult his lightly raced mare into Kosciuszko calculations.
Glorious Dream heads to Sydney for the first time in the TAB Handicap (1400m) on the back of a gritty 0.2 length win at Goulburn last start.
The daughter of Mossman is third-up from a long break after having surgery to correct a wind issue.
Pepper believes his mare has all the makings of a horse that can take part in the $1.3 million feature, but he isn’t getting too far ahead of himself.
“I suppose if she wins on Wednesday, we’ve seriously got to look at maybe promoting her for a Kosciuszko horse,” he said.
“That sort of city form, lightly raced, I think she profiles well, and I think you need a solid 1400m horse to win a Kosciuszko.
“That’s sort of in the back of my mind, but at the same time we know it’s a long, long way away.
“We just need to keep stepping up our grades, if she keeps winning, well she may put herself in the frame for a Kosciuszko.”
The four-year-old will be the Canberra horseman’s fifth runner in Sydney this season and she gets Tommy Berry in the saddle for Wednesday’s assignment.
Glorious Dream was a winner third-up in her last campaign and Pepper believes the daughter of Mossman deserves her chance in the metropolitan ranks.
“I think she deserves a crack with her performances and her benchmark obviously has risen,” he said.
“It doesn’t give us many options around the country, so she deserves her first attempt in the city.
“I think you couldn’t find a more suitable race, being a fillies and mares 1400m, it looks to be ideal.
“She’s got to take the next step and prove she’s up to that level, but what she’s shown us at home, I’m sure she’ll be very competitive.
“She’s a beautiful big horse and all the owners and I are looking forward to it.
“We couldn’t be happier with her to tell you the truth.”
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au