Newcastle apprentice Louise Day hopes the prospect of a heavy Rosehill track and lure of a six-figure bonus will push Canberra trainer Matt Dale towards the $1 million Yes Yes Yes Stakes (1300 metres) on Saturday.
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Day has built a formidable combination with the eight-year-old, winning four from four together, all on on heavy Randwick tracks, before a gutsy third in the $1.3 million Kosciuszko (1200m) on a good surface last start.
Man Of Peace led the richest race for country-trained horses until the final 100m and fought on to nab a placing, 1.2 lengths behind winner It's Me.
The effort makes Man Of Peace eligible for bonuses if he can run top three in the Yes Yes Yes Stakes on Saturday. The winner receives $580,000 but another $750,000 is on offer if that horse contested this year's Everest, Kosciuszko or Sydney Stakes. Second gets an extra $200,000 and third a bonus $100,000, more than doubling their prizemoney.
Dale, though, is also considering an easier assignment in the $200,000 Goulburn Cup on Sunday and will accept with Man Of Peace for both and make a decision on Saturday.
Day, who is set to ride at Muswellbrook on Sunday, hopes Dale chooses Rosehill, where Man Of Peace is one of her seven bookings.
And she believes the likely heavy conditions and longer trip in the Yes Yes Yes will give Man Of Peace a fight chance against a class field.
"I was actually surprised we were in front for as long as we were in the Kosciuszko, but he went really well and he's really honest," Day said. "And it was shy of his ideal trip.
"I hope he goes around on Saturday because I know he's accepting for the Goulburn Cup on Sunday as well. But with the rain about, it's very tempting.
"We won over 1300 over the winter and it was one of his best wins, so he can do it, but obviously there looks to be high pressure in this race. Eduardo is drawn inside me and will go forward and Prime Candidate will put pressure on as well.
"But we've drawn to get a good run either way. He can do his usual business and get out and get running.
"I think with the rain he finds a couple of extra lengths on other horses. He'd definitely be up there for a long way."
Dale told Racing NSW the track conditions would be a decisive factor. Rosehill was a Heavy 8 on Thursday with the chance of more rain.
"It's a strong race with a big prize pool but it is clearly the heavy track that has us interested in throwing him in the deep end," Dale said.
Day also has Bjorn Baker-trained long-shot Missybeel in the $500,000 Rosehill Gold Cup at 52 kilograms and a trio of chances for her boss, Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, at the meeting.
"Rider In The Snow has been working well but it's probably going to be looking for more ground again," she said.
"Think Free has had a bit of time off. She was quite good last prep so hopefully she can go well fresh, and Safado has been racing better and better each time and looks ready to strike."