He might be a challenging horse to train, but fortunately for the bold-running Pherarson, he is also talented.
The dual Group 3 winner will kick off his latest campaign this week in either Saturday’s Show County Quality (1200m) at Randwick or the $200,000 Goulburn Cup (1400m) a day later.
Either way, trainer Brad Widdup knows to expect one thing – that the gelding will go full throttle.
“He’s a horse with a lot of ability but he’s a scallywag,” Widdup said.
“For a seven-year-old, he has still got two-year-old habits.
“But he’s got a hell of a lot of ability and a great bunch of owners and we’ve had a lot of fun with him.
“He’s had 20 starts, six wins, six seconds and two thirds so he has been great for the stable and won a couple of Group Threes and they’re hard horses to get.”
Phearson boasts an outstanding fresh record with two wins and as many placings from his five first-up runs.
Among them was a hard-fought success in the Liverpool City Cup (1300m) last autumn when he was taken on for the lead and showed resolve to hold on.
His form tapered off after that, including in the Doncaster Mile when he worked hard to cross from an outside draw and faded to tail-out the field.
Widdup plans to restrict Phearson to shorter journeys this spring with the $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on October 12 among his long-range targets.
“I will probably keep him to 1400 this time and see where we go,” Widdup said.
“You’ve got the Show Country then the Theo Marks (Stakes) and the Alan Brown, if he could get a go in that we’d have a look at it. The Hunter is there as well.”
A smart field of 14 is set to tackle the Show County, led by Angela Davies’ up-and-coming sprinter Our Kobison.
With regular rider James Mcdonald unable to make his 53kg minimum weight, Kerrin Mcevoy takes over the reins.
McDonald instead pairs with Thousand Guineas winner Joliestar, who is fighting for favouritism with Our Kobsinon, the duo at $3.20 and $3.30 respectively in Wednesday’s markets.
