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Trainer John Thompson is happy to excuse With Your Blessing’s unplaced effort in stakes company earlier this month given a more favourable scenario for the consistent galloper at Randwick on Saturday.
On the back of a runaway all the way win at Kembla Grange on a heavy track, the gelding was sent out favourite in the Listed Razor Sharp two weeks ago on good ground but couldn't quicken from behind the lead.
With Randwick in the soft range, and a return to benchmark grade into the Precise Air Handicap (1100m), John Thompson said With Your Blessing almost has the perfect set up to bounce back.
"He was okay but I just think it was the extreme in tracks, Kembla was quite heavy and Randwick was firm,'' he said.
"Getting back on soft will enhance his chances.
"I was surprised he was favourite. He wasn't beaten far but he had his chance, I just think he's a couple of lengths better on soft ground.
"He is back a bit in grade, we are coming back 100m in distance which is not ideal I would have preferred another 1200m."
Tim Clark rides With Your Blessing, $5 with TAB on Friday, and he has a slightly wide gate to contend with but Thompson said it will likely mean he won't be held up on the fence and asked to sprint from on the spot as he was in the Razor Sharp.
A race like the Listed Canterbury Sprint (1200m) on New Year's Day could shape as a target if the five-year-old notches his fifth career win.
"The difference possibly was at Kembla he dictated whereas at Randwick the other day he didn't,'' he said.
"If he wins on Saturday he's pretty much forced into stakes company but he has the ability to win a stakes race, he just needs the right conditions."
A forgiving track would be a boon for Thompson's stayers Auspicious Cloud and Deniliquin in the Kia Ora Prague Handicap (2400m).
Both horses contested a race over the same trip at Warwick Farm on December 6, finishing second and fifth respectively.
"She's honest and going well, she's at the top of her game and she'll be the big improver going onto a soft track,'' Thompson said of Auspicious Cloud.
"Both jockeys who have ridden her in last two starts on firm tracks said she will appreciate the sting out of the ground which she will get."
Deniliquin was only third-up into that race and jumping from 1900m so Thompson expects him to be a big improver if the track remains cushy.
"He ran up to do something the other day but just died on his run a bit,'' he said.
"He was probably just a run short but now he's had the run under his belt he's fit and he's also a horse who likes some give in the ground."
