Darren McDonald initially purchased Sweet It Is with the aim of winning the Group 1 RSN Sandown Cup (715m) and the Victorian trainer is close to making that a reality when the daughter of Mogambo lines up in the $175,000-to-the-winner feature.
Sweet It Is (pictured) is odds-on (currently $1.70 with TAB fixed odds) to win the cup despite being unable to run down Butterfly Bling in her heat last week.
And while she is likely to get back in Thursday night’s final, punters believe she will have the class to power over what is a quality field of stayers.
While confident of Sweet It Is’ chances tomorrow night, McDonald is somewhat surprised by her short price.
“She is probably the class runner of the field but I do think her odds are a little too generous. She will need lots luck tomorrow because she will probably be out the back of the pack like she was in her heat last week,” he said.
“She is going to have to find a way through the field, either under or around them and in finals that can sometimes be difficult. The other dogs will need to stay out her way and give her a clear run in order for her to have a chance.”
Sweet It Is has already landed a Group 1 for McDonald when she came from last to win the Association Cup at Wentworth Park in April.
But the master trainer revealed he bought her with the aim of winning him his first ever Sandown Cup, which is Australia’s richest race for stayers.
“My main reason for buying her was to win this race. I’ve come close to winning the Sandown Cup but it’s one of few I haven’t cracked,” McDonald said.
Sweet It Is will jump from box seven in the cup, a draw she has yet to win from out of two starts.
According to the market, her biggest dangers in the cup will be Break O’day and Mepunga Tiara who are both currently priced as $6.50 chances.
It could be another big night at Sandown for McDonald as he also has Awesome Project entered into the listed Berwick Mazda Cup Night Sprint (515m).
While the Gosford Gold Cup winner looks a great chance to register his sixth win from seven starts in the sprint feature, where he will jump from box one, McDonald is not as confident.
“It sounds a little bit silly but even though he’s got box one the draw isn’t as good as last week,” he said.
“This week all three of the runners on his outside have great early speed. I’m not so sure how he will go but this race will be a lot tougher. But the dog has got plenty of confidence lately and that can go a long way in races.”
Meanwhile, in the third feature race of the night – the Macro Meats Cup Night Stayers (715m) – Xylia Allen will look to atone her disappointing fourth place finish in a Sandown Cup heat last week.
The champion sprinter-cum-stayer is currently $1.85 with TAB to win the $15,000-to-the-winner race, but will have to overcome box five to do so.
