Joe Pride’s Grafton Cup hopeful Destiny’s Kiss rill vie for back-to-back Rosehill wins in Sydney this Saturday, the four-year-old heading nominations for the Winter Stakes 2013.

Destiny's Kiss (outside, front) is one of the top rated 2013 Winter Cup nominees for this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

One of the major stakes races of the weekend the $100,000 Listed ATC Winter Stakes (2400m) has drawn 12 end-of-season stayers at nomination stage, the early favourite of which is Pride’s Power Of Destiny four-year-old Destiny’s Kiss.

The progressive gelding, formerly prepared by Robert Smerdon in Melbourne, sees stakes company for the first time if accepted into the Winter Stakes field.

They earned the step up in grade after a number of promising runs this time in in their first preparation under Pride’s care.

Most recently they won their first race for their new trainer at Rosehill on June 15 when Christian Reith rode them to a nice handicap win over 2000m.

They go up to the mile and a half for the first time then in the Winter Stakes, their performance in which will determine whether Pride decides to press onto the $150,000 Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) on July 11.

There’s just one other last start winner nominated for the ATC Winter Cup this year then with the in-form Gwenda Markwell-trained Peal Of Bells.

The Clangalang five-year-old has won their past two on the trot firstly relishing a Heavy (8) track at Warwick Farm when carrying a hefty 61.5kg to victory in May before their fly away seven length triumph over the two miles for the $100,000 Stayers Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick on June 8.

They go back to the mile and a half for the Winter Stakes and how they handle that will be the key but their good lead-up form suggests they’ll be well fancied here.

Some of the other top rated hopefuls then include the Tim Martin-trained Group 1 performing mare Fibrillation, the Hawkes’ rising 10-year-old veteran Fiumicino who won the Listed WJ McKell Cup (2400m) in the wet two back by three lengths over Melbourne Cup hopeful Motivado and Gai Waterhouse’s The Metropolitan minor placegetter from last spring Reuben Percival.

Others that come off more promising recent form include Scone galloper Kaypers and Piazza San Pietro who was third to Peal Of Bells in the Stayers Cup last start.

Check out the full 2013 ATC Winter Stakes nominations below with the final field due out on Wednesday.

There may not be any more Group 1 racing until the spring but with good late season features like the Winter Stakes on the cards there’s still plenty of action to sink your teeth into.

So make sure you visit bookmaker.com.au and check out the latest horse racing markets, the online bookie offering the country’s premier range of fixed win odds.

2013 ATC Winter Stakes Nominations

Rosehill Gardens – 29/06/2013