Trainer Mick Price says he has tried to keep Testa My Patience as fresh as possible for his attempt to make it two straight Sandown wins from as many runs this campaign.The Testa Rossa four-year-old was first-up when he won over 1300m on the Hillside circuit on February 9, defeating Wednesday's rival Chive Bloom by 2-1/4 lengths.The gelding goes up in grade from a rating 72 to a rating 82 in The Cove Hotel Handicap (1400m) on the Lakeside track."He's going well. He's on his way up to 1600 metres

Trainer Mick Price says he has tried to keep Testa My Patience as fresh as possible for his attempt to make it two straight Sandown wins from as many runs this campaign.

The Testa Rossa four-year-old was first-up when he won over 1300m on the Hillside circuit on February 9, defeating Wednesday's rival Chive Bloom by 2-1/4 lengths.

The gelding goes up in grade from a rating 72 to a rating 82 in The Cove Hotel Handicap (1400m) on the Lakeside track.

"He's going well. He's on his way up to 1600 metres and I've tried to keep him fresh for the 1400 metres," the Caulfield-based trainer said.

"It looks a winnable race for him. He'll hit the line pretty well again and I'm hoping I've got him fresh enough second-up because he's had a 1300-metre run which is not his distance.

"He's a nice horse on the up and I've tried to keep him fresh and make it two out of two this preparation."

Testa My Patience has won twice and been placed in another three of his six starts, finishing fourth at his only other outing.

Price said after his initial racing campaign of four starts, Testa My Patience had stifle surgery and was sidelined for eight months.

"When he came back he raced on a heavy track at Moe and pulled a muscle so I had to spell him again," he said.

Five months after being beaten into third place as favourite to Alannan Lad in a rating 68 1200m event at Moe on August 31 last year, he resumed by winning at Sandown with Craig Newitt in the saddle.

"He's ready to go and I think in weakish company he'll go through his grades," Price said.

Newitt again rides Testa My Patience who is $2.30 favourite with TAB Sportsbet and drew barrier four in the 10-horse field.

The Big Steel is second pick in the betting at $5 ahead of Chive Bloom ($6), Wearethestorm ($8) with Tanby at $10 and Adams Bell next best at $12.