"If she jumps a wee bit better and puts herself into the race a little bit more at Waikouaiti... she would have a bit of a show."
Desert Girl is yet to taste victory, but Katie Jay (R5) has been even more frustrating for Daly since she joining his stable late last year. "She's a wee bit of a dilemma horse, really."
Sluggish starts have hindered the Danske mare's chances of running in the money, although she has been doing her best work closer to the finish of her two starts over 1400m at Wingatui and Ashburton this month.
"She's always looked like she'd go over a wee bit of ground - if the sting could stay out of the track, that would help her, too."
The track was rated at dead (6) yesterday, which could also suit Aronsay in the Waikouaiti Cup (R6).
The evergreen 9-year-old has won four races on a dead track, but Daly concedes it will be a big ask for the veteran to win, even after a bold resuming run for third in rating 85 company at Timaru on Saturday.
"He found the line good, which I was pleased about."
Aronsay (rating 89) is the highest-rated horse in the rating 85 cup and is carded to carry 61kg, although Rebecca Black's 2kg claim will help.
