Acromantula back on track for Carlyon Stakes after puzzling flop at The Valley

Arcomantula’s first-up failure at The Valley remains a mystery to trainer Ben Pearce, who is confident the speedster can rebound and go back-to-back in the Carlyon Stakes.

Acromantula will be out to win the Carlyon Stakes for the second straight year at The Valley on Saturday. Picture: George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images

West Australian trainer Ben Pearce has reigning Carlyon Stakes winner Acromantula back on track after a mysterious and uncharacteristic failure first-up at The Valley.

Pearce was confident going into the fresh run, Acromantula placed third in the corresponding race last year before winning the Carlyon second-up, until the barriers opened.

Acromantula stepped slow and despite firing through to lead, the Sandgroper sprinter petered out before the bend as Mornington Glory sailed away for an effortless victory.

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A comprehensive vet examination last Monday week revealed no significant abnormalities.

“I don’t really know what to make of that run, he just did nothing,” Pearce said.

“He stepped slow which is unlike him … we went back to the jumpouts just to have a look and make sure we weren’t that wrong and he jumped out really well.”

Acromantula displayed trademark speed last Tuesday to lead and win a Pakenham jumpout with a tongue tie applied for the first time.

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“We did a full vet exam on him on the Monday (after first-up race) and came up with nothing, we put a tongue tie on,” Pearce said.

“Only based on when we scoped him he seemed to displace quite easily, that was all we could come up with, he jumped out in the tongue tie so that will be on Saturday.

“Sometimes you like to be able find a reason so you know you’ve fixed it, but I suppose it’s a positive (clean bill of health) as far as he’s not going to miss any time, he’s back on track.”

Mornington Glory shoots clear at The Valley! 🔥@[e-mail]/zMCjyWKHTV

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 10, 2024

Acromantula had won twice and placed three times in six first-up assignments before the latest Valley failure.

The seven year-old gelding has won three of six starts second-up, including the Carlyon last year, and been runner-up once.

“He’s never raced first-up like that before, normally his first couple of runs are his best,” Pearce said.

“He has put in (bad) ones before where he has been attacked in front later in a prep and he’s failed and we’ve gone to the paddock, but never an early fresh run like that.”

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Electric filly Bold Bastille, with Jamie Kah aboard, could do the attacking on Saturday in the 1000m drag race.

Kah partnered Mornington Glory to victory last start.

“It looks a strong enough race, hopefully we can see him back to himself, jumping clean and showing that speed we know he’s got,” Pearce said.

“We were happy with the way he was going but the first-up run has thrown a spanner in the works, prior to that we’re confident he’s come back as good as he was last year.”

Jockey Daniel Stackhouse, who rode Acromantula in the jumpout, has replaced Craig Williams.

“It’s good that Stacky had a feel of him,” Pearce said.

“We’ll leave it up to him (speed tactics Saturday) from there, he’s an experienced jock and will be able to work that out when he’s out there.”

Originally published as Acromantula back on track for Carlyon Stakes after puzzling flop at The Valley