Trainer Robert Smerdon hopes a frustrating spring campaign with Politeness can end on a winning note in the Summoned Stakes at Sandown.

A Group Three winner at Randwick in April, Politeness has finished just behind the placegetters in her four runs this campaign in stronger mares' grade.

She was a last-start seventh in the Group One Myer Classic at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day, finishing less than two lengths from the winner Bonaria.

Smerdon is hoping a drop back in grade to Group Three company will see a return to winning form.

The trainer has elected to keep Politeness to mares' company, having also entered her for the Sandown Stakes over 1500m.

He said the drop in grade and racing on the Sandown Hillside track are an advantage for a mare who needs her races run to suit.

"She's held her condition really well since the Myer," Smerdon said.

"Frustratingly she's competed well over the spring without winning but she's a backmarker and if you go forward she's not effective.

"She needs so many things to fall into place for her and that's why Tommy Smith wanted his horses ridden up on the speed."

Smerdon took the opportunity of taking Politeness to Sandown for an 800-metre jump-out down the back of the course to top her off for Saturday.

"There's a really good stretch of grass there from the 1800 metres to the 1000 metres and up the hill," Smerdon said.

"We thought we would take the opportunity on a good surface to keep her up to the mark."

Nick Hall, who had the ride on the mare at Flemington, keeps the ride on Saturday.

Smerdon has a light muster at Sandown on Saturday with two-year-old filly Thurlow in the Merson Cooper Stakes and three-year-old Ungrateful Ellen in the Sandown Guineas his only other representatives.