Host Of The Party might be sharper than stablemate Cooldini at Sandown on Wednesday but trainer Robert Smerdon is looking for both to stamp their claims for the South Australian Derby.

Host Of The Party is equal favourite for Wednesday's City Of Dandenong Cup (1600m) on the back of a pleasing first-up run at Sandown two weeks ago.

Both he and Cooldini resumed in the same 1400m race with Host Of The Party closing for fifth behind import Sharalam while Cooldini was ninth.

Host Of The Party showed enough to warrant a Sandown Guineas appearance at his third start in the spring but Smerdon felt he would be better over longer distances this campaign.

"We thought he might get over a bit of ground so we're stepping him up in distance and he might end up in the South Australian Derby," Smerdon said.

"His second start at Flemington last preparation was the one that flagged him as a prospective stayer. He drew wide (over 1800m), got back and made up a lot of ground late to finish fourth."

Smerdon said Cooldini was also on a path to the South Australian Derby but believed Host Of The Party might have the better turn of speed over a mile on Wednesday.

"If you look at their first-up runs, Host Of The Party was sharper and Cooldini's best part was the last part of the race," Smerdon said.

"Hopefully they can both keep progressing to warrant a trip to Adelaide and maybe even Queensland."

Smerdon has seven horses entered for the meeting including last year's Grand National Hurdle winner Brungle Cry who runs in a 2400m flat race.

Brungle Cry is scheduled to step out in a hurdle race at Sandown two weeks later.