By Jonny Turner
Wild Bull has a hard act to follow ahead of his debut at Ascot Park on Thursday.
The three-year-old is a full brother to Wildwest (pictured above) who made one of the most impressive debut victories seen in Southland in recent history when he scored by more than 12 lengths in his first outing at Winton in 2019.
Like Wildwest, Wild Bull is trained by Lauren Pearson and he will be driven by Brent Barclay. Wildwest was exported to Australia after his first win and has since been a Group 1 winner and won 15 from 51 starts, earning over half a million dollars.
While it would be nice to see a repeat of what his big brother did, Pearson is keeping her feet well and truly on the ground ahead of three-year-old’s debut.
“He is a nice horse but race day is another step up from what he has been doing at the trials,” the trainer said.
“Most of his trials have been good, initially Brent wasn’t thrilled with his last one but when he went back and looked at the replay he was happy with it.”
“Fingers crossed he can do everything right on Thursday.”
Wild Bull will clash with his stablemate Duke Of Scotland in race 8 on Thursday.
Duke Of Scotland looks to be getting close to a win following consistent efforts in his last three starts.
How the race plays out early for the four-year-old, who follows out a roughie from barrier 2 on the second row, could be crucial to his chances of scoring a deserved win.
“He has worked good this week, two on the second row probably isn’t the best,” Pearson said.
“He would probably have been better off drawing wider on the front row than there.”
“Hopefully he can get a bit of luck.”
Nathan Williamson takes the reins behind Duke Of Scotland, while Pearson and Barclay also combine with Without Comparison in race 6.
The mare produced the best performance of her career so far when sitting parked and toughing out an impressive last start win at Winton.
The four-year-old steps up in class to race more hardened competition in Thursday’s Gold Chip Final, but she does so while he form is on an upward trajectory.
“Fingers crossed she does everything right, it is not a big field so hopefully that should help her,” Pearson said.
“One thing is that she does try hard when she goes out there.”
Pearson also lines up Nek Delight in race 2, with Sarah O’Reilly to do the driving.
The mare has drawn in the same awkward spot in barrier eight as she did in her last visit to Ascot Park.
“I think in three of her last four starts she has drawn wide,” Pearson said.
“She always seems to be last and trying to run on from there.”
“It could be the same on Thursday, she just needs a draw.”
