Backing tough sprinter Periduki up in Monday’s Christmas Stakes at Caulfield after his fourth in Melbourne last week is no concern for his new trainer Todd Balfour.
The winner of 19 of his 52 starts, Periduki was fractious in the barrier, jumped awkwardly and missed the start by two lengths before going down by 4-1/2 lengths to The Soldier.
“For a horse to make up as much ground as he did over 1000 metres when they are running 56 (seconds) is a great effort, especially with a horse that dominates with his front running tactics,” Balfour said.
“The straight was totally foreign to him too but he rallied on well because he normally has his own way in front or gets taken on but this time he had to come from behind and he actually ran a nice race.
“He should run a nice race over the 1200 metres especially around a corner.
“He’s an extremely tough horse. He’s not the sort of horse you can give a light gallop.”
“Mick (Whittle, his previous trainer) who sent him over to me from Adelaide told me not to be scared to race him.
“He doesn’t do much in between races, he goes to the beach and he walks and trots.
“It’s great to have a horse like him so I can listen to Mick and learn a bit.”
Periduki has a good record over 1200m having won six races and finished runner-up in four of 16 tries at the trip.
The seven-year-old’s wins include the 2010 Listed Matrice Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville and the 2008 Pioneer Sprint (1200m) in Alice Springs.
He was runner-up to Jade City in the Northern Territory’s premier short course race, the 2008 Palmerston Sprint (1200m).
Balfour has snapped up his friend, top heavyweight jockey Steven Arnold, for Periduki who will carry 59kg in the non-claiming Listed feature.
Arnold won the race last year aboard Grand Duels who jumped from barrier 15 and carried topweight of 59kg.
“Stevie is a class rider and when you need a heavyweight rider there’s no one better,” Balfour said.
“He’s a Territorian himself, from Alice Springs where the horse is from, so he’ll have a fair bit of respect for the horse.
“I spent a lot of time up in the Territory years ago and he’s been a great mate of mine since we were kids and we were apprentices at the same time, but this is the first chance I’ve had to put him on one of mine.
“Normally mine don’t get that much weight.”
AAP TURF
