Trainer Sam Kavanagh believes that imported stayer Midsummer Sun is capable of turning-the-tables on Malice in the 2014 ATC Cup at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Midsummer Sun finished a close second behind Malice at his last start, but has the chance to turn-the-tables in the ATC Cup. Photo by: Steve Hart

Midsummer Sun made a slow start to his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign, but he returned to a semblance of his best form in the Vincents Accountants Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 1 before he was almost able to upset Malice in the Cellarbrations At Valentine Handicap (1900m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The Monsun gelding is set to meet Malice half a kilogram better in the weights in the ATC Cup this weekend and Kavanagh told Racing Ahead that he is hoping the pull in weights as well as the step-up in trip will help Midsummer Sun return to winning form.

“He bounced back last week and he ran the quickest 600 metres in the race and performed back to where he should be,” Kavanagh said.

“He meets all those horses a little bit better in the weights this week and if anything he seems to have come on and the extra 100 metres will suit him.

“Permit is going to be hard to beat, he ran third the other day and he will obviously improve with the step-up in trip, and obviously Malice that beat us the other day.

“It is a similar field, but I’m hoping that the extra 100 metres will suit us more than Malice and meeting him a half kilo better for a photo finish we might be able to turn-the-tables.”

Midsummer Sun was settled at the tail of the field before finishing strongly in the Cellarbrations At Valentine Handicap and Kavanagh believes that jockey Tye Angland will employ similar tactics, despite the six-year-old drawing barrier three in the ATC Cup barrier draw.

“Tye gets on well with him and he should be able to get a nice run,” Kavanagh said.

“He is better ridden a bit quieter and hopefully there is enough pace in the race.

“With any luck he will be very hard to beat.”

The ATC Cup has drawn a quality field of ten stayers and Midsummer Sun will have to perform at his very best to record his second win at black type level since arriving in Australia.

Malice will be joined in the ATC Cup field by stablemate Gallatin, who took out the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, while last start winner Metaphorical, Chris Waller-trained Beyond Thankful, tough stayer Permit and Bede Murray-trained World Wide will also contest the $100,000 race.