Desmon’s Pride chasing third straight win at the Gold Coast for trainer Les Kelly

TWO abandoned meetings may have delayed the inevitable for Desmon’s Pride with trainer Les Kelly expecting a big performance from the gelding who is chasing a third straight win.

Desmon's Pride won the Class 4 Handicap (1400m) at the Gold Coast on November 11. Picture: Mike Batterham.

TWO abandoned meetings may have delayed the inevitable for Desmon’s Pride with trainer Les Kelly expecting a big performance from the gelding who is chasing a third straight win.

Desmon’s Pride will run in today’s Class 5 (1200m) at The Gold Coast Turf Club, five weeks since last ran in a successful Class 4 at Aquis Park over 1400m.

The last two races Kelly had the five-year-old set to race in have been abandoned, one at Ipswich when heavy rain cancelled the races and another at the Gold Coast last weekend when lightning prevented the last two races being held.

It has delayed Kelly’s ambition to increase the distances Desmon’s Pride racing, with the Gold Coast trainer forced to go back 200m to give his horse a run.

But Kelly said it is the only hurdle for a Desmon’s Pride — the $2.60 favourite for today’s race — who is still holding impressive form.

“He is going really well,” Kelly said.

“The horse is in perfect condition and I am expecting a big run from him.

“It’s just a shame he has had a couple of meetings that have been washed out. The only hurdle for him is coming back to 1200m.

“It’s not fitness that will affect him. I was just building him up to go over further ground.

“Missing those runs put me in a position where I have had to go back to 1200m and start again.

“There wasn’t any suitable 1400m races around.

Kelly said Desmon’s Pride’s current preparation — the fourth of his career — is his best yet after recording three wins from five races.

It has taken his overall racing record to five wins from 16 runs and boosted his prizemoney to $62,335.

“He is certainly an improving horse,” Kelly said.