Promising Brisbane three-year-old Peppered Black will get a final chance to save himself from an appointment with the surgeon’s knife at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Trainer Lawrie Mayfield-Smith has confirmed Peppered Black will return to racing in the Hidden Dragon @ Lyndhurst Hcp Handicap (1200m) but cautioned the horse’s campaign could be cut short by a gelding operation in preparation for a shot at the winter carnival.
“He goes really good but he’s not far off being cut,” Mayfield-Smith said.
“He’s not big. He’s only a little horse but he’s becoming `bully’ and it might be best to geld him and tip him out after Saturday for a quick break and bring him back for the winter.
“I’ll wait and see how he goes but that’s what I am leaning towards.”
Mayfield-Smith selected Peppered Black at last year’s Magic Millions sale and paid $31,000 to secure the Falvelon colt on behalf of a syndicate of owners that includes prominent Central Queensland butcher Peter Boodle.
Peppered Black was ready to resume in the Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast last weekend but failed to get a start as first emergency and Mayfield-Smith said he was hoping for a wet track for the horse’s comeback on Saturday.
“That’s his best chance of winning first-up over 1200 metres,” Mayfield-Smith said.
“He won his first start on a bog track last year and I’m hoping the rain stays around until Saturday.”
Peppered Black has recorded two wins and two seconds from eight career starts including a victory over 1615m at Doomben two runs back and Mayfield-Smith is confident the horse can measure up to the black-type three-year-old races during the winter carnival.
“I don’t think you’ll see the best of him until he gets to between a mile (1600m) and 2000 metres,” Mayfield-Smith said.
“He likes to settle early and come hard at the end of his races and I’ve always thought he’ll be better off when the races get a bit longer.”
AAP TURF
