Sights Lowered For Perturbo Return
- Friday, 06 August 2010 04:45
Wet tracks have disrupted the preparation of promising sprinter Perturbo, forcing connections to lower their sights with the gelding for his spring launch at Flemington.
Co-trainers Colin and Cindy Alderson were hoping the five-year-old would kick off in Saturday's Group Three Aurie's Star Handicap (1200m) but instead have opted for the 1000-metre support race, the Warren Lee and Kenneth Norton Handicap.
"We would have loved to have run in that (Aurie's Star) but it has been very difficult to get the work into the horse with it being so wet at Cranbourne," Cindy Alderson said.
Alderson said she had been unable to trial Perturbo and it was virtually a situation of running him over 1000 metres at Flemington and hoping for the best.
"He's going to improve out of this run, that's for sure," Alderson said.
Perturbo made giant leaps last campaign when he went from racing in restricted class to contesting the Group One Goodwood at his last run in Adelaide on May 2.
He was beaten three lengths when finishing eighth in the Goodwood but lost a plate in running and didn't get a lot of galloping room.
Alderson said the Flemington straight appears to suit Perturbo and he has impressed at his only two starts at the track.
The gelding was an unexpected winner when he stormed home from last to claim a narrow win over 1000m at Flemington on April 10.
At his other start he just failed to snatch a victory from Good Medicine when second in a photo-finish in the Kokoda Track Handicap (1200m) in his Goodwood lead-up on Anzac Day.
"The Flemington win was a surprise to us all," Alderson confessed.
"The straight suited him as he was able to get out into the open and let rip.
"It has added a new dimension to the horse."
The downside was that Perturbo's rating soared from 72 to 89 last campaign and he will carry 59kg on Saturday.
"There were not a lot of options for him but if he can show he is capable of performing well down the straight again on Saturday then he could go back there next month," Alderson said.
She said the Group Three Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) could be his goal on September 4.
Picture: Colin Bull
