Hoping for home ground advantage

EXPERIENCING no luck during a recent interstate campaign, colourful horseman Kevin Pizzuto hopes his fortunes will change closer to home this weekend.

Pizzuto undertook trips south of the border during the past fortnight to contest the Victoria Derby heats and Final with Ravishing Sloy, which was unplaced on both occasions.

The son of Bettors Delight squeezed into the decider with his sixth in a qualifier before finishing eighth in the Group One.

"Nothing went his way," Pizzuto said. "I was happy with both his runs, he went as well as he could, he just didn't get any luck."

Set to return to Club Menangle on Saturday night, Ravishing Sloy is among the favourites in the first New South Wales Breeders' Challenge semi-final.

Ravishing Sloy is unbeaten from two starts at the world class venue since joining Pizzuto's stable, with his wins including a heat of the futurity on September 24.

Drawn barrier two, the three-year-old will begin from the pole with the removal of the emergency.

Queensland raider, Air Express, is considered the main danger from gate four.

"He's had a big couple of weeks, but has come through it fine," Pizzuto said. "He's a good doer, so if anything, he has put on a bit of condition.

"I consider him the one to beat, but the main objective is to get through to the Final."