Warwick Farm preview: Talented colt Perspiration gets his favoured conditions ahead of his test against older rivals

Trainer Ciaron Maher has patiently waited for a wet track for the return of stakes-winning colt Perspiration and gets ideal conditions at Warwick Farm.

Perspiration will relish the wet conditions in his race return at Warwick Farm. Picture: Bradley Photos

THE recent wet weather is exactly what trainer Ciaron Maher has been waiting for with his talented colt Perspiration as he finally makes his long awaited return to racing.

The son of boom young stallion Too Darn Hot has won two of his five starts including the Listed Heritage Stakes from Gatsby’s in the spring and was runner-up in another two.

His only unplaced run came in the Group 3 San Domenico won by Storm Boy on an unsuitable Good 4.

“The track was quite firm that day and he didn’t appreciate it,” said Johann Gerard-Dubord, NSW assistant trainer to Maher.

Not wanting to run him on firm tracks again, the stable have patiently waited for the rain and Perspiration gets a suitable track for his return in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m).

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“We have scratched him a few times because of the tracks. I think it’s imperative he finds a bit of give in the ground which he gets this week,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“He has had a good base and we have done as much as we could with him at home.

“He will improve off the run but is forward enough and ready to run very well.

“The biggest query is he has a bit of weight (61kg) which is not easy for a three-year-old against the older horses. Hopefully his class can get him home.”

Perspiration gets the better of Gatsby's in a tight finish to the Listed Heritage Stakes! 📸 @[e-mail]/nPSgv1N142

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 28, 2024

Another who will relish the wet track is Linwood who won her only start on a Heavy 9 in a Warwick Farm Super Maiden last July.

She is looking to make is two from two when she resumes in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m).

“She is a typical New Zealand horse who likes give in the ground which we saw at her first start, Gerard-Dubord said

“We knew she would furnish and mature with time so we put her away after that win and saved her for this time of year where there will be plenty of options for her and we know we will find wet tracks.

“We have been very patient as she is a mare we like. Even though the 1200m is on the sharp side for her and this is only a starting point, she is ready to run well.”

Following a nice barrier trial at Hawkesbury here he raced very wide and closed smartly late to finish third, Navy Pilot was backed from $7.50 into $4 on debut on the Kensington on March 13.

After settling well back, he ran home well to finish fifth behind stablemate Stormland over 1000m.

“He was backed on debut which surprised us a bit because we obviously had Stormland in the race who had drawn better,” Gerard-Dubord

“Navy Pilot was always going to be disadvantaged by the wide gate and had to go right back so it was almost impossible for there but the way he finished off was very impressive.”

The colt is entered in the Two-Year-Old Maiden Handicap (1300m) but is also entered for the Group 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

“He is a horse we think has a lot of ability,” he said.

“If he were to get a run in the Sires’, we would likely go that way with him.

“He’s got the right attitude and a very good turn of foot.”

One horse Gerard-Dubord feels will run well this week is Sisterhood who is an acceptor in two races – the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m) and the Benchmark 72 for fillies and mares (1400m) for which she is the third emergency.

“She was very good over 1400m last start and the heavy won’t be any issue for her.

“I think she will run a very good race whichever way she goes.”

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TRAINER Bryce Heys has set lightly-raced four-year-old Mailata a few strong challenges this preparation but with good reason and the gelding has handled himself very well.

Mailata had a bad experience at the barriers last campaign and Heys wanted the gelding to build confidence back up.

He resumed from an eight-month spell with a Super Maiden win on the Kensington in January then jumped straight to Midway grade at Randwick where he finished fifth behind Photographics and ninth to Catch The Glory after a wide run.

Mailata (yellow cap) gets home right on the wire to win on the Kensington track at Randwick in January. Picture: Bradley Photos

“The only reason he went straight to Midways after his maiden win was to keep him in the hands of the barrier attendants that knew him,” said Heys.

“I just wanted to get a bit of continuity with him in the gates to help build his confidence.

“We are just lucky he has got a level of ability that we were able to run him in those races.

“He raced well in them albeit with a lot of luck.

Heys gave Mailata a shot at the Provincial-Midway Championship Qualifier over 1200m at Gosford and the gelding finished less than two lengths behind Money Team in fourth place.

He stays at the same trip when he contests the Benchmark 72 Handicap.

“He was good at Gosford the other day, he was just caught on the wrong part of the track,” Heys said.

“He is probably looking for a touch further but I saw this a potential step to head back to the races before stepping up in trip.

“Hopefully that will be at his next start if he goes around this week providing the track improves.”

Heys is looking forward to the return of Engine Room in the Maiden Plate (1300m) but admits an awkward draw has made the gelding’s task harder.

The son of Super Seth debuted with a fourth behind Manos at Warwick Farm before finishing a neck second to subsequent Group winner, Snitzanova on the Kensington.

Snitzanova runs them down in the opener at Randwick today for @cmaherracing and @ZacLloydx 💨 pic.twitter.com/rnh0wuyPL6

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 30, 2024

“I thought he was really good first-up then I thought he was a little unlucky second-up,” he said.

“He was beaten by a decent horse but he didn’t have a lot of luck that day and was only narrowly beaten.

“We put him in the paddock to have a good break after that.

“He has drawn a bit tricky for his return but we will just let him find his feet and hopefully he is doing his best work late.”