Racing: Sweet Serendipity seeks return to winning form

Photo / Thinkstock

A horse who looked certain to be snapped up by Asian bloodstock agents only to race ingloriously at his city debut will be out to redeem himself at Canterbury today.

Sweet Serendipity may no longer be a target for Hong Kong interests but that doesn't mean trainer Jason Coyle has lost faith in the horse.

Buyers circled Sweet Serendipity in May after he followed up an impressive barrier trial victory by winning the A$100,000 Inglis Challenge at Scone.

However, the inquiries stopped not long after when he over-raced on a heavy Randwick track and dropped out to finish last - 19 lengths from the winner.

Coyle hopes a winter spell has prepared the 3-year-old to correct that "massive fail" when he returns for his first race since at Canterbury.

Regular jockey Kathy O'Hara will climb aboard for the Become An ATC Sponsor Handicap (1100m) in what will double as a test for the horse's future prospects.

"He was put in the paddock and he's freshened up now, so I hope that he's back to what he was at Scone," Coyle said.

"He's still got to prove what sort of quality horse he is and that's going to be a matter of going back to the races and winning races."

Coyle said his decision not to run Sweet Serendipity in a barrier trial this time was deliberate.

Coyle will be hoping Sweet Serendipity and O'Hara can follow up Saturday's Randwick win of stablemate Flight Academy.

If not, the trainer-jockey combination will have other Canterbury chances in Takewing (Australian Turf Club Maiden Hcp) and Smart Moochi (Canterbury Park Hcp).

- AAP