BRAD Widdup says Phearson is the “forgotten horse” of Saturday’s $1m Group 2 The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle.
The leading Hawkesbury trainer anticipates his dual Group 3 winner should get an ideal run from the inside barrier in a field now reduced to 12 following the withdrawal of Goulburn-trained last start Flemington placegetter Danny’s St Darci.
Tom Sherry rode Phearson at his latest appearance when unplaced in Bella Nipotina’s $3m Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 2, and stays on him.
Sherry rode the gelding when third to Ka Bling in a Benchmark 94 Handicap (1300m) at this meeting 12 months ago, and also in his two Group 3 victories; the Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill last December, and Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at Randwick in March.
The Russell Balding was run at set weights plus penalties, and Phearson drops from 56.5kg to 54.5kg on Saturday.
“The Russell Balding was run at a very fast tempo, and Phearson never got on the track from his wide barrier,” Widdup said on Friday morning.
“With front-runners such as Felix Majestic and Coal Crusher in The Hunter, I’m expecting Phearson to get a nice sit behind them.
“He has been in great order right throughout this campaign.”
Widdup, who won the Max Lees Classic with Fire Lane at The Hunter meeting two years ago, also runs High Dandy (Tyler Schiller) in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1600m).
“High Dandy slipped at the start in the Little Dance (1600m) at Randwick on November 5, so forget the run,” he said.
“Jason Collett rode him and couldn’t get clear running in the straight, and said High Dandy had plenty to give.
“The Newcastle race looks a nice race for him to get back into the winning list.”
Meanwhile, leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees is warming to his chances of ending a run of seconds in his home town’s richest race.
He has eight runners on the 10-race card, and named his $2m earner Rustic Steel as the pick of them in The Hunter.
Tim Clark replaces brother-in-law Josh Parr on Rustic Steel, who backs up after winning the Listed Ladies Day Cup (1500m) at Hawkesbury last Thursday, with blinkers back on.
“Rustic Steel finished off very strongly when fifth in last year’s The Hunter after he drew the outside barrier (12 ran) and got well back,” Lees said.
“That was only his second run that preparation, and he’s more forward this year going into The Hunter fourth up.
“Rustic Steel had a few days on the water walker at our farm at Ellalong after the Hawkesbury race, and is a very fit horse.
“He has drawn well and should get a nice run. I feel he’s got a terrific each-way chance and is the pick of our team on a very open program.”
Lees’ seconds in The Hunter were with Tactical Advantage in the inaugural year (2019), Special Reward (2020), and Wandabaa (2021).
Lees never shies away from having a crack at the $250,000 Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) with fillies, hence his decision to start lightly-raced Éclair Encore (Andrew Gibbons) this year.
He won the 2017 edition (run at Royal Randwick because of work on the Newcastle course proper) with Invincible Gem, and subsequently finished second with both Game Of Thorns (2019) and Kind Words last year.
“Éclair Encore was bred in Japan and came out here, and has had only three starts,” he said.
“As a result she is a little bit behind the others, but is a nice filly with upside and this doesn’t look to be the strongest renewal of the Spring Stakes.”
Lees will start both youngsters Rustemo (Jason Collett) and Gobi Desert (Tim Clark) trying to add the Max Lees Classic (900m), the race named in honour of his legendary late father, to his own honour roll.
“The eight acceptors are all debutantes, and my pair trialled okay at Scone late last month, but probably have to lift a bit, but can be competitive all the same,” he said.
Lees considers Rogue Bear (Collett) is in a suitable race in the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1850m).
“His last run in the Little Dance (1600m) at Randwick was good, and the increase in distance suits and he has drawn well,” he said.
Spangler (apprentice Ben Osmond) and Dream Hour (Andrew Gibbons) will represent the stable in the Benchmark 94 Handicap (1300m).
Lees’ third acceptor Inver Park is going to Queensland for what he describes as a “softer option” in the Class 6 Plate (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday, and Andrew Mallyon rides.
“Spangler has been off the scene for a year and will need this run, whilst Dream Hour ran well when placed first-up on the Kensington track but has drawn awkwardly and is probably looking for a bit further,” he said.
Lees has decided to take blinkers off Powerful Peg (Osmond) for the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) against her own sex, and says she has the ability to be competitive on her best form.
. Lees continues his Melbourne spring carnival campaign with Infancy at Caulfield on Saturday.
Mark Zahra partners the Australian Bloodstock-raced mare in the Group 3 How Now Stakes (1200m) after she was a luckless fifth in the Group 3 Begonia Belle (1100m) at Flemington on November 2.
“Infancy has trained on well and will be in the finish if she gets sufficient speed in the race to finish off as we know she can,” Lees said.
Story John Curtis, November 15, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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