Troy Portelli has taken the gamble on overnight rain in Sydney to give Handsome his chance in the Australia Day Cup at Randwick.

The Melbourne trainer sent the horse north for Saturday's 2400m Listed race in preference to running him on a firm surface at Caulfield.

"We are chasing wet tracks and hopefully the rain does come which will give him some hope," Portelli said.

"If we stayed at Caulfield he would be racing against much the same horses he's been beaten by at his past couple.

"He has led at his last two starts but that's because staying races in Melbourne tend to be slow early.

"In Sydney the settling tempo is quicker early and he shouldn't have to lead.

"He won at Moonee Valley coming from behind. With him it is tempo-related and Tommy Berry has a pretty good clock in his head so that should help him against what is a strong field.

"These are horses that are up to Group Three and Group Two class so our best chance is a wet track and a good tempo."

Handsome won a 2500m race at Moonee Valley on December 13 when he settled midfield but was run down when fifth and seventh after leading at his next two.

The Cup field has been reduced to seven with the scratching of the Robbie Laing-trained Heaven's Riches who will run in the 2400m race at Caulfield.

A half brother to 2008 Australian Derby winner Nom Du Jeu, Handsome hasn't reached the same heights for his owners the Morton family, but his trainer says there is still plenty to come from the gelding.

Portelli said his liking for long distances and wet tracks were just two of the qualities that would help Handsome become a jumper.

"I think he will be an ideal jumps horse and he has a future there," he said.

"He came to me from Queensland with the idea of getting him ready for a career as a jumper."

Handsome is the outsider of the field with Travolta holding sway in markets over the Chris Waller-trained pair of Brigantin and I'm Imposing.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse, Travolta won the ATC Cup in December but has been thwarted by horses from the Waller stable at his next two, running close seconds to I'm Imposing in the Summer Cup and Permit in the Tattersall's Cup.