The only box Southern Speed hasn't yet ticked is the one that indicates wet track form but trainer Leon Macdonald expects her to take care of that at Rosehill.The Caulfield Cup winner comes into Saturday's Group One Ranvet Stakes (2000m) off the back of the closest of seconds to Manighar in the Australian Cup.The four-year-old has never raced on a surface worse than dead but was given a strong workout at the track under Chad Schofield on Tuesday.Craig Williams takes over in the Ranvet which is e

The only box Southern Speed hasn't yet ticked is the one that indicates wet track form but trainer Leon Macdonald expects her to take care of that at Rosehill.

The Caulfield Cup winner comes into Saturday's Group One Ranvet Stakes (2000m) off the back of the closest of seconds to Manighar in the Australian Cup.

The four-year-old has never raced on a surface worse than dead but was given a strong workout at the track under Chad Schofield on Tuesday.

Craig Williams takes over in the Ranvet which is expected to be run on a rain-affected track with Rosehill a heavy (8) on Thursday.

"I think she will handle it but I don't really know so I don't know if I should be concerned," Macdonald said.

"The sting out of the ground might turn out to be in her favour.

"I don't think it will worry her. Nothing else does."

Southern Speed, Manighar and New Zealander Scarlett Lady are equal second favourites for the Ranvet with the market headed by last-start Chipping Norton Stakes winner Shoot Out.

The Adelaide-based Macdonald's first foray into Sydney racing was in the 1998 Ranvet when three-year-old Gold Guru delighted the trainer but dismayed the crowd with his win over Might And Power.

The champion turned the tables when they met in the Mercedes Classic (now BMW) but Gold Guru upset another Sydney star a couple of weeks later when he kept Tie The Knot at bay to win the AJC Australian Derby.

Since that first visit, Macdonald has carefully handpicked horses to bring to Sydney with considerable success.

In 2001 Regal Kiss became his first Golden Slipper runner after she won the Reisling Slipper Trial on the corresponding day to Saturday while in the autumn of 2008 Serious Speed took out the Group Two Hobartville Stakes.

In between Macdonald claimed his biggest payday when Dilly Dally, a mare part-owned by his wife Pam, took out the 2004 $1 million TJ Smith.

More recently dual Derby winner Rebel Raider failed to handle the Sydney direction so Macdonald believes he's about due to plunder another race.

"I'd been around a long time when I took Gold Guru to Sydney but it did put me in the national spotlight," Macdonald said.

"Hopefully the mare can win the same race but it will be tough."

Macdonald, who now shares training duties at Morphettville with his son-in-law Andrew Gluyas, hopes there will be a solid pace in the Ranvet.

"Southern Speed has a good barrier (three) and should be able to get a good run from there," he said.

"I just hope there is enough pace. There looks to be on paper but if not Craig will have to adapt."