Trainer Dan Pearce is toying with the idea of testing 2019 Karrakatta Plate winner Dig Deep over a staying trip this campaign, following an impressive trial at Lark Hill yesterday.

Dig Deep, with William Pike aboard, finished third behind Massimo in a 950m trial yesterday, as he prepares to launch his campaign in the Group 3 Belmont Sprint (1400m) on May 29.

Dan Pearce said he and Pike got what they wanted out of the trial.

“Willie was really positive about him,” he told TABradio.

“He was happy with how he went through the gears.

“Obviously he went back and found the line.

“He’s not a 1000m horse.”

Dig Deep had six starts over the spring and summer period at Ascot, before three runs at Listed level over the autumn.

The highlight of his autumn campaign was a win in the Listed Grandstand Cup (1500m) on March 20, before a third placing in the Old Comrade Stakes (1600m).

Pearce said he would look at running the gelding in the Group 3 Hyperion Stakes (1600m) and Group 3 Strickland Stakes (2000m), in what could be his first start beyond 1800m.

“I think we can work through all three,” he said.

“He went to the 1800 of the Kingston Town as a three-year-old.

“It’d be nice to get him out over a bit further.

“We will just play it by ear with him.

“My gut feeling is that he will get out past a mile.

“It’d certainly open up things for him so it’ll be nice to test that theory.”

Don’t Fuss also trialled for the Pearce team in the same trial and will trial again before his return to the track.

Meanwhile, Pearce said he would look to start Acromantula in a fortnight, provided he didn’t run into This’ll Testya again.

“Obviously it’s not ideal when you get taken on like that,” he said.

“He’s come through really well.

“There’s a race there in a couple of weeks’ time but we don’t want to run into the same horse again.”

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au