Co trainer Ben Pearce has backed his gelding Dig Deep to run a bold race first up in Saturday’s G3 Furphy Belmont Sprint (1400m) at Belmont.
The five-year-old has not raced since the Towton Cup (2200m) five months ago, but according to Ben Pearce he is primed to kick off his campaign.
Pearce says after winning his third barrier trial by a big margin, Dig Deep has put himself into the frame of winning the Belmont Sprint.
Dig Deep went close to winning on his return last preparation and did it easily in his 1450m heat, racing clear to win by four lengths.
Pearce, who trains in partnership with his brother, Dan, said strong track gallops by Dig Deep since the trial has only fuelled his confidence.
Dig Deep missed the Roma Cup and an encounter against Elite Street, but Pearce says he will go into the Belmont Sprint in the best possible condition.
“He worked the best he has for a long time on Tuesday and I reckon he is going real good,” Pearce told The Races WA
“He took a couple of trials, but now that he is a bit older he takes that bit more to get him there.
“We were a bit disappointed with his first two trials, but we were riding him back and trying to hit the line.
“That third trial over the 1400m when we rode him closer to the speed, he went super.
“With the Roma Cup being a slick field, we chose to steer around that.
“He went good first up last prep at the 1400m in the Hannans that he should have won.
“He is fit and well and everything is going good with him, he’s had a trouble-free prep.”
Pearce has turned to Belmont Sprint specialist, Pat Carbery, to ride Dig Deep.
The in form jockey has won the race previously with Who Did It (2005), Beat The Storm (2007) and Perfect Jewel (2020).
In a capacity 16-horse field, Carbery will fire Dig Deep out from barrier six.
With Red Can Man the hot $2.20 favourite, Dig Deep is currently rated a $23 chance with Tabtouch, firming from $26.
Pearce thinks that’s a generous quote for punters.
“He’s drawn a good gate, got an inform jockey, I think he is definitely over the odds at that price.”