John O'Shea is giving Viva Las the benefit of a minor doubt over a modest Rosehill record to declare the mare on the verge of returning to winning form."I thought she was a little bit unlucky first-up," O'Shea said."The winner (Cabernet) ran well but Viva Las might have run a good second if she had a bit more luck."Viva Las takes on fillies and mares company once more in the Hudson Plumbing Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday after resuming when sixth to Cabernet at Randwick on January 1.St

John O'Shea is giving Viva Las the benefit of a minor doubt over a modest Rosehill record to declare the mare on the verge of returning to winning form.

"I thought she was a little bit unlucky first-up," O'Shea said.

"The winner (Cabernet) ran well but Viva Las might have run a good second if she had a bit more luck."

Viva Las takes on fillies and mares company once more in the Hudson Plumbing Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday after resuming when sixth to Cabernet at Randwick on January 1.

Storm Kite finished second in the same race, beating Viva Lass home by almost three lengths.

But Viva Las was held up between runners in the straight and the four-year-old has been well supported in early betting to atone, firming from $4.20 to $3.60.

In two Rosehill starts, Viva Las has finished no closer than fourth.

"The only concern for her might be that her best form hasn't been at Rosehill," O'Shea said.

"Against that this is probably the best we've had her going.

"She's coming off a very good performance first-up and she's won second-up before."

Christian Reith takes over from Tommy Berry on Saturday and the mare will start from barrier one.

Trainer Ron Quinton, meanwhile, will test Storm Kite beyond 1400m for the third time in her career.

So far she has come up empty with unplaced runs on the Kensington track at Randwick and at Rosehill.

"She's a half-sister to a Sydney Cup placegetter (Prophet's Kiss) so on breeding there shouldn't be too many problems," he said.

Storm Kite possesses a damaging sprint which has carried her to three city wins but her latest campaign has been a source of frustration for connections with placings at her past three starts.

Like Viva Las, Storm Kite has also attracted early support to hold favouritism at $2.40.