Toowoomba colt Pardoe is not certain to start in next week’s JJ Atkins despite an easy win at Doomben on Saturday.
Star jockey Hugh Bowman took Pardoe straight to the lead and he ran a field of smart two-year-olds into the ground in the Listed The Phoenix (1350m).
It was Pardoe’s fourth win in a row but trainer Tony Sears is reluctant to commit the colt to next week’s Group One race.
Pardoe beat Italia Bella ($7) by 1-3/4 lengths with two lengths to Magnufighter ($9.50).
“I have always thought he would get better as the distances got longer and especially since we added blinkers,” Sears said.
“But he has won four in a row now and he would need to come through this run in very good order to back up in the Atkins.”
Sears paid tribute to Bowman who adopted tearaway tactics on Pardoe.
“Before the race I said to him I was the worst jockey to ever ride in Brisbane so he could do what he liked,” Sears said.
“Hugh said there didn’t appear to be much pace and he might lead. He did just that.”
