There is too much in With Your Blessing’s favour for Randwick trainer John Thompson not to follow his plan to have the promising sprinter in the Bob Charley Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
With Your Blessing has got himself into stakes grade with consistency over 20 starts and takes the benefit of a first-up run at Scone and a liking for sodden ground into the listed feature of the Saturday program.
John Thomson believes With Your Blessing (yellow silks) is up to the task in the Bob Charley Stakes.Credit: Getty
Thompson, like many of his rivals, had a back-up entry for a benchmark race at Canterbury on Monday for With Your Blessing but is convinced he can get a stakes win.
“It was always a race we had been looking at for him because he likes being at home,” Thompson said. “He probably needed the first-up run as he only had one barrier trial heading into it and it showed late.
“He has always been one of those horses that is so honest and tries his heart, so we know what we will get, and he really likes getting his toe into the ground.
“I just look at Saturday and there are so many ticks with him.”
With Your Blessing is a four-time winner and could have added another two or three wins last preparation with a touch of better luck.
He’s returned stronger for his winter preparation and loomed as the winner at the 150m mark in the Ortensia Stakes at Scone last month before he peaked on his run and was beaten only a length into fifth behind Opal Ridge.
Regan Bayliss will stay on With Your Blessing after riding him at Scone, and he left Randwick after working him on Tuesday morning believing his mount had made the necessary improvement to find the length he needs.