With Your Blessing will relish a return to Randwick this Saturday as he targets his first Group victory in the Missile Stakes, with trainer John Thompson optimistic that familiar surroundings and a rain-affected surface will bring out the best in the gelding.

Although only finishing fifth behind Romeo’s Choice in his season return at Rosehill, Thompson hasn’t lost confidence in the gelding’s ability, instead attributing the below-par result to his Rosehill record.

“He was going well into it. For some reason, he just doesn’t go as good at Rosehill as what he does at Randwick,” Thompson explained.

“He’s had eight starts there and has barely run a place and he’s the most consistent horse. He tries. It’s a bit weird.”

Randwick has proven a much more suitable circuit, where With Your Blessing boasts three wins and five placings from 12 outings, and with the track currently rated a heavy 8, conditions look ideal.

Thompson recalled a dominant performance on a wet track at Kembla Grange during the The Gong carnival, which gives him confidence heading into Saturday.

“It was a terrific win that day. He brained them,” he said.

“He is going well. Back to Randwick. He handles the wet. Up to 1200, perfect. He’s got a good draw and he hasn’t missed a beat. He has come on from the run.”

“He will be up on the speed out of trouble too, that will probably help on Saturday.”

Meanwhile, Thompson has scratched Opal Fields from the Midway Handicap (1100m) due to the track conditions and is leaning toward starting Bundeena in the Ranvet Handicap (1000m), despite the surface not being ideal.

“He is better on soft but he’s a horse that tries so hard,” Thompson said. “He will run well again because he’s going super.”

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