The future is bright for Black Fantasy.
That is the mindset of the promising three-year-old’s trainer Ben Pearce going into today’s $125,000 Belmont Classic over 2200m in Perth.
The gelding found an extra gear inside the last 300m to win the Aquanita Stakes over 2000m last start, edging out gutsy stablemate Outspoken Lad who almost led all the way.
They have been given respective odds of $2.80 (favourite) and $4.60 with Ladbrokes for today’s Listed feature.
Pearce is excited at the upside Black Fantasy possesses, and believes he can continue his good form in the Belmont Classic.
“I think Black Fantasy is going to be a better horse when he gets in a race with genuine speed and he can sit off the pace a bit,” he told horsebetting.com.au.
“I don’t think he’s suited sitting that close to them. But in these races there isn’t a lot of speed in them.
“So when he bounces out and puts himself there you’ve just got to go with it. I think as he gets older and gets into his races with more pace he’ll be better suited.”
Pearce believes Outspoken Lad’s future can get just as many tongues wagging after his courageous effort last start.
“As for Outspoken Lad, it suits him sitting in the speed and he seems like a tough, grinding sort of staying type,” Pearce said.
“Black Fantasy has probably got a bit more class about him, but with them going up to 2200m Outspoken Lad might come in with a genuine grinding staying ability.”
The three-year-old pair were very impressive in the WA Derby over 2400m on April 9, Black Fantasy finishing third at $41, closely followed home by Outspoken Lad ($16).
This gives Pearce confidence they will both step up another 200m today.
“They ran third and fourth in the Derby earlier in the year over 2400, so there shouldn’t be any questions on their staying abilities,” he said.
“They both deserve to win one. It’d be nice to see Outspoken Lad get one after his brave efforts.”
Pearce has been delighted with the rapid improvement and maturity both Black Fantasy and Outspoken Lad have shown in such a short period of time.
“They’ve both been really consistent throughout their preps. Black Fantasy has gone from a starter in the Magic Millions last prep over 1200m (running third on February 6), to running third in the Derby over 2400,” he said.
“He’s shown that he’s got a bit of natural ability there and he’s pretty versatile.
“They’ve come through the same preps since they were babies. We earmarked them both as Derby prospects.
“So they had their preps from when they were broken in, all the way through.”
Training brothers Ben and Daniel Pearce pride themselves on – and are very astute – at identifying and developing yearlings with potential.
“We’ve got a nice bunch in at the moment. We’ve got quite a few two-year-olds who have come through, and had preps and trialed and gone back out,” Pearce said.
“And now they’re nearly ready to hit the track as three-year-olds.
“They’re all turning three, so there are plenty there who look like they’ve got plenty of ability.
“A colt who trialed on Monday – Manavendra (impressed, running third). There’s a horse in (today) Hear My Prayer – he’s quite a nice horse.
“He’s drawn a bit sticky (the two-year-old picking up barrier nine in race one over 1200m), so he might not be suited. But he can be one to follow.”
With the consistent success they are starting to enjoy, the Pearces are happy to continue developing yearlings and finding local buyer groups to follow their progress.
“That’s the biggest part of our business. We don’t have any one big owner – the majority of our horses are syndicated,” Pearce said.
“So we buy them as yearlings and syndicate them. In previous years we’ve been east and bought horses as well.
“But the past couple of years with COVID it’s been a bit hard, so we’ve stayed home and bought horses at the Perth sales.”
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