Pearce brothers back in Let’s Galahvant to come good in Ted Van Heemst

It’s a simple scenario for co-trainers Dan and Ben Pearce at Ascot tomorrow as they chase down a feature race with Let’s Galahvant in the Group 2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m).

If the best version of Let’s Galahvant turns up in the Ted Van Heemst, he’s in the race right up to his eyeball, if not he could be in a spot of bother and Perth Cup (2400m) ambitions go out the door.

Plans for Let’s Galahvant have been thrown asunder after a totally uncharacteristically sub-par run in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) when only Storyville and Casino Seventeen were behind him.

After a slashing fifth in the Railway Stakes when apart from the winner Port Lockroy and third placegetter, Super Smink, it was the run of the race, the Pearce brothers were left chastened and flat.

“Look, it was an enormous run in the Railway and was probably disappointing from the run he got in the Northerly,” Daniel Pearce said on Tabradio.

“He did come out of with a few little issues that we hope we’ve rectified.

“If the same horse that runs that race in the Railway turns up, he could be right in it.

“He’s been good and is great today (Friday) and we’ve just tweaked a couple of things post the Northerly run which we hope can get him back on track.

“That Railway run was enormous and if that same horse turns up, we are going to be happy tomorrow (Saturday).”

Let’s Galahvant slided across from a wide barrier to land one-one in the Northerly but raced flat when the pressure went on.

With Shaun McGruddy opting to ride Currimundi, Lucy Fiore gets her opportunity to jump on Let’s Galahvant for the first time in two years.

Pearce his hoping in a smaller field of just eight starters and from barrier one, Fiore can give Let’s Galahvant a soft passage in running.

“Getting a soft run for the majority of the trip will be good,” Pearce said.

“If he can get off and build, we’re hoping he can run a race towards the Perth Cup hopefully.”

In 45 visits to the races, Let’s Galahvant has been in the top three in half of those.

If he can sneak a 13th career win, he will punch past the $1 million prizemoney barrier.

Boosting that magical tag came after winning the Listed Hannans (1400m), the Listed Northam Cup (1600m) and Group 3 Strickland Stakes (2000m).

Let’s Galahvant is $11 for the Ted Van Heemst, in a point after he was $12 when Tabtouch markets opened.