Trainer Matthew Dale is hopeful Signoret can overcome expected heatwave conditions and a disappointing last-start run to give him his first win in the $25,000 Cowra Cup on Sunday.

The five-year-old Anabaa front-running mare, a Brendan Ward mount, is coming off a sixth to Baranski over 1600m at Gosford on December 19.

"She was a bit disappointing at Gosford, albeit she was only beaten 3.3 lengths," the Canberra-based trainer said.

"From the 600 metres she just wasn't there. All her other runs this campaign have been good.

Signoret, the winner of four from 15 starts, owned and bred by Adelaide-based Michael Birchall and his daughter Catherine, had a 24-day break before Gosford after her encouraging third to Servante and Graskop over 1300m at Goulburn on November 25.

She tackles the Cowra Cup at her fifth run this preparation, the Cup representing a big drop in grade from her good Sydney metropolitan form.

"She's at her peak fitness," Dale said. "She's fit enough and sharp enough to run very well.

"The heat will obviously be a problem. Mares tend to suffer more in those conditions, but we'll be taking every precaution to ensure everything's right.

"I think she's in with a great chance."

Dale will also saddle up his nine-year-old warhorse Happy Finish in the $21,000 JRA Japan Cowra Cup (1200m) with 3kg-claiming apprentice Brodie Loy in the saddle.