Brothers Daniel and Ben Pearce have sprinted away with a target race after Perth sprinter Acromantula dominated the Carlyon Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Acromantula went within 0.21 seconds of the Moonee Valley 1000m track record set in December by Inundation when taking out the Listed race on Saturday.
Ridden by Craig Williams, Acromantula ($3.40) scored by a length from Hypothetical ($8.50) with Ashford Street ($21) a further 2-¼ lengths away third.
Daniel Pearce said he was quite happy with how the race unfolded in the early stages.
“He’s a quick horse and he was able to use his asset today and I was pretty happy when they left him alone,” Pearce said.
“When he got it his own way out in front and Willo was able to quicken him up from the 600 (metres), we were pretty happy.”
Pearce said he and his brother have some thinking to do as to whether they return for a shot at the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 9.
That race is run under weight-for-age conditions and Acromantula, if he takes up the challenge, will be pitted against Giga Kick and What You Need.
“He was pretty well suited today with the set-weights and penalties, but we’ll give it some serious thought,” Pearce said.
“We were talking to Craig before the race, and although the 1000 metres looks on paper to be his pet distance, I don’t think the 1200 metres is completely out of the question either.”
After having to use Acromantula early in the race to find the front, Williams allowed the sprinter to build into a steady rhythm.
Williams said the gelding railed like the proverbial ‘greyhound’ on the turning Valley circuit.
“Once he got to the front and got into a really good rhythm, I didn’t want to break that rhythm as I used him up early,” Williams said.
“As soon as he could see the bends coming up, he actually railed inside of where most horses had been galloping and I thought if I could get him to shave the rail and be very economical around the bends without hitting the rail and being off-balance, it would be such an advantage.
“He was amazing. He’s a very fast and effective horse.”
