Dual feature race acceptor Ginger Baker is likely to start in the Saturday’s Farnley Stakes at Belmont in favour of the Kalgoorlie’s Coolgardie Cup a day later.
Co-training brothers Dan and Ben Pearce have hemmed and hawed over the $125,000 1400m metropolitan event or the $100,000 1760m Goldfields contest, the latter of which the gelding won last year.
However, with time running out, Ben Pearce is favouring the former.
“At this stage, I think he’ll run in the Farnley,” he said on Friday evening.
“We’ll see how he is in the morning but ultimately, we’ve left the decision to his owner Tony Patrizi and he’s preferring the Farnley.
“It’s not going to be as wet as he likes (at Belmont) but he won the Coolgardie Cup last year on a Good4.
“They’re expecting 15mL of rain in Kalgoorlie, so the track could be soft there as well.
“We just have to pick the right race.”
The nine-year-old was freshened before last fortnight’s Idyllic Prince Stakes (1300m) where he ran with credit to be a length-and-a-half third, chasing only King Of Light and Snowdome.
“I think he’d be very hard to beat (in the Farnley),” Pearce said.
“He was a good run last start. He gets in pretty well at the weights (59kg) and if a bit of rain comes and the track is soft but still in reasonable condition, I think it could really suit him.
“Without those horses that have finished around him at his last start, it does look like a good option for him.”
Ginger Baker is a $7 third favourite behind Royal Toronado ($3.40f) and Charino ($4), while the Pearces also saddle up Sensessional ($11).
Sensessional was an encouraging first-up fourth but struggled to land a telling blow when only eighth next time out.
“We thought his first-up run was really good,” Pearce said.
“Last prep was the first prep we’ve had with the horse, and we were really impressed with what we saw.
“We were expecting him to front up for a really good Belmont campaign. Last start, we thought he was a tad disappointing, so we’re hoping that he could bounce back from that.
“We had the vet go right over him. He had a little soundness issue behind but not enough to warrant the disappointing performance.”
Should Ginger Baker scratch from the Coolgardie Cup, the stable will still be represented by cups king Outspoken Lad ($8.50).
“He’s going really well,” Pearce said.
“His last season was unbelievable. To win the Carnarvon Cup, Esperance Cup, Narrogin Cup and Diggers Cup was quite an achievement.
“He’s not a superstar but he’s a workhorse and he’s continued to improve as he’s gotten older.
“His last run was super and he’s heading in the right direction.
“He’s drawn wide but that’s not a big corner. At Kalgoorlie, they always run at a good tempo and he’s got (tactical) options.”
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