Phearson just can’t draw a gate this prep, but trainer Brad Widdup is keeping the faith, adamant the gelding is “flying” and capable of breaking through if things finally fall his way.
The seven-year-old has finished out of the money in both runs this campaign after drifting back from awkward barriers, and he’s copped another tough alley—gate 10—for Saturday’s Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill.
His latest sixth behind Estadio Mestalla in a leader-dominated Winter Stakes (1400m) was better than it reads, and Widdup reports the horse has thrived at Hawkesbury since.
“He has been a very frustrating horse all his career but at the moment he’s flying,” Widdup said.
“It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him run well.
“He just needs a bit of luck. He keeps drawing bad gates. He has been plagued by them.”
Phearson once wanted to overdo things in his races; years of work have seen him settle, though his recent get-back pattern owes plenty to those sticky barriers.
“We never wanted him to be like that (fierce) and we worked hard to get him to settle,” he said.
“Now he is settling but he’s not getting the right draws.
“I’d love him to begin a bit better. He has been a bit slow away which is not helping either, but bad barriers have probably taught him that.”
Tom Sherry, aboard last start, stays with Phearson. Stablemate Bella Khadija has Chad Schofield engaged in the Stuart Macdermid Handicap (1500m) after being scratched from Kensington midweek.
The filly was a dominant first-up winner at home at Hawkesbury and has continued to please.
“It’s a hard race but she gets a little bit of weight relief and it’s a Saturday race for three-year-olds,” he said.
“I don’t know if she can come out and win a Saturday race second-up but I just thought it was a better fit than running against older horses on Wednesday.”
Widdup also saddles Art’s Alive in the MyPlates Handicap (1200m) after her encouraging third behind Hi Dubai at Rosehill a fortnight ago.
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