Powell chases city breakthrough
Trainer Hanna Powell heads to Sandown in search of her first city victory with a horse chasing a third straight victory.
Ultimate Kiss runs for Powell in the ive > Handicap (1300m) on Wednesday after scoring wins at his only two starts back from an 18-month break.
Powell has been training since the late 1990’s and has 50 winners to her credit from almost 580 runners but is yet to crack it for success in the metropolitan area, despite having placings at Sandown with Ultimate Kiss previously.
She is again looking forward to seeing Ultimate Kiss at Sandown.
“I’m not looking forward to the drive there or the drive back, back I’m looking forward to the race,” Powell said.
“He had 18 months off. He had a tendon injury, but he has been in work since mid-January.
“I’m on a 50-acre property and I pre-train them off the quad bike around the hills.
“He had a lot of going up-and-down the hills next to me with me driving the quad bike before he started to gallop seriously.”
Ultimate Kiss resumed with a three-length win at Seymour on July 2 and nine days later backed it up with a 3-¼ length win at Bendigo.
“That would be nice again, but this field is a bit harder,” Powell said.
“I have a very good track rider and she has a very good feel of him, and she says he is feeling better.
“The track won’t worry him, and neither will the outside barrier.
“I’m sure he will come in a bit, but just the way he starts he should have no trouble getting across.”
Being a small trainer with just four horses in work, Powell said it can be difficult finding a rider for her horses.
Ultimate Kiss will have his third rider in as many starts this campaign with Daniel Stackhouse taking the ride.
“Luckily, I’ve found a decent jockey,” Powell said.
“It’s pretty hard when you’re just a small-time trainer because all the big boys, and girls, have all got the good jockeys.
“It was lucky that Daniel Stackhouse was on one of Hayes’ in that race, and I think the story goes that they decided to run that horse in a different race.”
More Racing News
Midnight Dynamite's Path to the Big Dance After Rosehill Win
Connections of Midnight Dynamite are keen to see the horse contest a $3 million prize following his commanding performance in the Winter Challenge at Rosehill.Having added Saturday's stakes race to his triumph in last month's Listed Civic Stakes (1400m), the gelding is now slated for the Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m)...
Bold Soul's future may be over jumps after Flemington success
Connections have found Bold Soul, trained by Patrick Payne, to be a good earner on the flat, but his future might be better suited to hurdles.Bold Soul secured the Deane Lester Flemington Cup 1849 (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday, adding to his seven prior wins from 33 starts and boosting...
Sword Of Legacy's determined win follows Band Of Brothers' Ramornie success
Matthew Dunn's stable has enjoyed a prosperous week, capped by Sword Of Legacy's hard-fought victory at Rosehill. This triumph arrived just three days after Band Of Brothers, carrying the same lime, purple, and gold Hesket Thoroughbreds silks of David Moodie, captured the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton.Sword Of Legacy, sent out...
Ko Phangan claims Byerley Handicap at Flemington
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable continues its impressive run in qualifying races for Classic contenders with Ko Phangan's recent victory at Flemington.Ko Phangan's win in the Byerley Handicap (1800m) secures a coveted ballot exemption for either the Victoria Derby (2500m) or the VRC Oaks (2500m) during the Melbourne...
Joint Venture earns carnival ticket with Rosehill triumph
A late-developing two-year-old, Joint Venture, is now in contention for the initial three-year-old feature races after securing a crucial win at Rosehill.The impeccably bred son of I Am Invincible, a $625,000 yearling acquisition for the Newgate stallions syndicate, displayed significant progress from his debut second at Wyong, asserting his class...
Betwitchery ready to extend winning streak first-up
Betwitchery is set to extend her winning sequence as she makes her return to the racetrack at Flemington.The Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained mare is scheduled to begin her new racing campaign in the VRC Member Brendan Sobozynski Plate, a 1200-metre contest, this Saturday.Betwitchery, who has won five...
Littlefield targets Magnolia Cup after Flemington engagements
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield is scheduled to travel back to the UK in approximately a week to participate in a charity race at the renowned Glorious Goodwood Festival.The Magnolia Cup is a distinguished charity event this year supporting Education Above All. It aims to gather funds to ensure access to education,...
General Salute set for Winter Challenge under favourable wet conditions
The arrival of overnight rain has alleviated Sterling Alexiou's primary concern regarding General Salute's prospects in the final black-type race of the Sydney season, following his recent victory in the Winter Stakes.All four of the gelding's previous wins have been recorded on rain-affected tracks. Earlier in the week, with Rosehill...
Burning Heartz set for Adelaide Stakes test
Trainer Gavin Bedggood envisions a future for Burning Heartz in an Oaks race, but his immediate goal is to secure some valuable Stakes black type for the filly.Burning Heartz, a winner on debut at Sandown on July 1, is now heading to Adelaide to contest the Group 3 South Australian...
King Pedro defies odds in thrilling Grafton Cup victory
King Pedro has cemented his credentials for the spring staying races following an exceptional display to win the Listed Grafton Cup, navigating a slow-paced affair.Trainer Tom Charlton, observing from his Sydney base, admitted to initial apprehension regarding the track's bias against backmarkers. These nerves were amplified when Tahlia Fenlon, on...