The bar has been lowered for New Day Rising after his unplaced run in the group two Villiers Stakes and he will be given the chance to regain winning form in an open handicap at Rosehill on Saturday.
Trainer Gary Portelli admits to being disappointed in the gelding's eighth in the 1600m feature last Saturday week even allowing for mid-race traffic problems.
"He had his chance to run on better than he did even though he got held up," Portelli said.
"He's been disappointing in the past over longer trips so we'll take him back to 1400 metres this week.
"I think he can win his share of races over the summer and I'd rather he knocked up prizemoney for the owners by aiming low rather than struggle by aiming high.
"He'll be in races he can win and then we'll see where he ends up."
Formerly trained by Gai Waterhouse, New Day Rising was bought privately from Gooree Stud by clients of Portelli.
His five starts for his new trainer have yielded a Rosehill win over 1400m and a second over 1250m at Canterbury.
Glyn Schofield will replace his son Chad on New Day Rising with the youngster serving a suspension.
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The gelding will carry 54kg in the New Year's Eve Handicap with Mr Unforgettable and Rainbow Styling equal topweights with 58.5kg.
While disappointed with New Day Rising's most recent start, Portelli was heartened by stablemate Rose Of Peace's second on the same day.
The mare showed great promise as an early 3-year-old, finishing her spring campaign with a closing fourth to Brazilian Pulse in the group two Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
Her first-up maiden win in February this year was followed by a third in the group two Surround Stakes.
But her AJC Australian Oaks campaign ended badly when she beat just one home in the Classic run on a heavy track.
She was spelled after finishing last in the Scone Guineas won by Sincero.
Her Warwick Farm second this month was her first start since the Guineas and she will take her place in the Benchmark 79 (1400m) at Rosehill.
"I expected her to run well and she did," Portelli said.
"We'll take it one step at a time with her this preparation.
"She's already stakes-placed but it's important for her to get some more prizemoney and important for her future to get a stakes win. She will have a light preparation and then probably come back for the back end of the Sydney carnival or maybe go to Brisbane.
"One thing for certain is that she will only be running on dry tracks."
Rose Of Peace will be ridden by the in-form Brenton Avdulla and will carry 55.5kg with Titbit (58kg) heading the weights.
Talented but injury-prone gelding Southern Skye will be one of New Day Rising's rivals.
The Paul Perry-trained 5-year-old's last appearance was a fighting short-head second to Spinney in the Tattersall's Club Cup (2000m) on New Year's Day. He has been plagued by tendon problems which have restricted his career to 18 starts.
"He's had a bit of tendon trouble. He's always had it," Perry said.
"He's come along all right so far this time. I'm hoping he can stay sound and maybe head to the Brisbane winter carnival.
"It's a question of spacing his runs.
"He's had two trials leading into this and they were pleasing."
Southern Skye won the 2009 Geelong Classic and finished fourth in that year's Victoria Derby won by Monaco Consul, after which he was out for 12 months.
- AAP
