Newcastle trainer Paul Perry made a rare trip to Brisbane to oversee the brilliant win of three-year-old Perast at Doomben on Saturday.
Perast ($5) set a flying early pace and then held on to win by 1- 1/4 lengths to Marsupial ($4) in the Listed Queensland Day Handicap (1350m).
Mishani Bullitt ($18) battled on well to be third a further 1-1/4 lengths back.
Perry has been one of NSW’s leading trainers but rarely targets the Brisbane winter carnival.
“I think the last time I was really here was when Newport won the Brisbane Cup (2007). I only bring them up here if I think they are good enough,” Perry said.
“This bloke ran a good race to win a Caulfield Guineas Prelude last spring and then he was fifth in the Caulfield Guineas. I think at set weights he probably had something on today’s field.”
Perry said Perast had run in the Sydney autumn but his main aim was always going to be the Brisbane winter.
“There are plenty of races here for him and a race like the (Group Two) Queensland Guineas looks ideal. But we will have to look for a programme to get there (on June 9).”
Jockey Tim Clark said the win had been impressive because he did it at both ends running fast time early (43.67 got the first 600m).
“We saw in the spring his best performances came after a few tough runs and he was at his best today,” Clark said.
Jim Byrne, who rode Marsupial, said he challenged the winner at the 200m but Perast had been too good.
