Almighty Class will look to put a disappointing first run behind him as he returns to flaunt his Pinnacles carnival credentials at Ascot’s season-opening meeting on Saturday.
Mitchell Pateman had big hopes and was happy to spruik Almighty Class in the Amelia Park Plate (1200m) at Belmont in July, but the Playing God gelding couldn’t match his trainer’s hype.
Almighty Class, who started favourite, faded to sixth and was beaten five lengths by Ancient Guidance.
Almighty Class won a Belmont trial by four lengths last month without being extended and will run first up in the Max Simmonds Stakes, a feature race for three-year-olds over 1000 metres.
Drawn ideally in barrier four and carrying 55kg for Jarrad Noske, Pateman believes Almighty Class can back up the high confidence he has in him.
“I think he’s very good, I’ve said that before,” Pateman said on Tabradio.
“He probably let me down a little bit at his first start, but much like a few of ours he didn’t like the track that day (Heavy 9).
“I took reasonably good horses there and they all went awful.
“Back on top of the ground, his trial was super, albeit against weak opposition, I think he’ll run a good race.
“The draw gives him a chance to be neutral out the gates.
“I think he’ll get a better tempo than his maiden and that will allow him to switch off.
“I think his ability level is somewhere near that grade.
“Hopefully he can do that and get over the top of them.
“He’s got a really nice turn of foot.”
Almighty Class is $9.50 with Tabtouch. Oscar’s Fortune the $2.80 favourite.
Pateman will unveil juvenile This’ll Show Ya in the Quayclean Plate (1000m) and expects the Showtime filly to be prominent on debut after a couple of nice trials.
“She’s pretty professional and does everything right, Pateman said.
“She’s only small, but can run.
“She monsters the feed bin and is a real two-year-old.
“I’d expect her to run really well.”
Pateman says a wide draw hurts Little Strawberry in race six, but shouldn’t worry Feels Playful who will roll to the top in the Amelia Park Handicap (1400m).
He rates Mojo Rhythm a top chance in the Furphy Handicap (1200m).
After reaching a top of $51 with Tab touch, the five-year-old, a last-start winner at Northam, has trimmed to $16.
