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Smart debut winner Last Supper will return to the races in the $50,000 Class 4 race (1200m) this Saturday and trainer James Peters had no qualms about a three-month wait for his second start.
Although the three-year-old won well on debut in a Restricted Maiden race over the same trip on 20 August, Peters was in no hurry to get Last Supper back to the races as the son of Grunt still looked like a work in progress.
Described as a "scopey" type prior to his first run, Last Supper was seen as a horse that would get over more ground. Though he weighed in at a healthy 513kgs at his debut, Peters thought he was a little light.
"Definitely looked a little light after his debut," said the London-born conditioner, who also runs Emergency Acceptor No. 1, Cool Sixty-One in the same race.
"He had a few (two) trials before his first run and while he won nicely, the run and the preparation had taken it out of him physically.
"In saying that, he was always going to be a three-year-old runner, so a freshen-up after his first run was always on the cards.
"We have given him time off to strengthen up a bit and though he's still not fully there yet, he's ready for Saturday."
Similar to his preparation heading into his winning debut, Peters has given Last Supper three barrier trials prior to running in an open company for the first time.
"We gave him two trials before his debut and followed a similar path here," he explained.
"But I wasn't happy with his first two trials. I thought he overraced, which wasn't ideal, so we made some small gear changes (wears crossover noseband and earmuffs) and gave him a third trial (won trial no 2 on 16 November in the time of 1 min 1.86secs).
"(Jockey) Vlad (Duric) rode him the last time but because he (Last Supper) was going to carry a lightweight in Class 4 (53kgs), we had (jockey) Manoel (Nunes) booked for this race and also for his last two trials.
"He (Manoel) is happy with how he is going and from the good gate (five), it is an ideal opportunity to box seat him and teach him how to relax in races.
"Going forward, he will need to learn how to settle. You can't just lead and win as that tactic will catch up to you quickly as you go through the grades.
"Hopefully, he matures both physically and with his racing manners with each run and gets to show us his full potential.
"No rush with this guy (Last Supper). I think he will be competitive on Saturday and has plenty more to offer."
Meanwhile, Peters has four other horses declared for Saturday with Fast And Fearless (x Iffraaj) foot on the till in the $30,000 Class 5 race over 1000m.
"I thought he (Fast And Fearless) had excuses and could have won two starts back (Class 5 race over 1000m on 21 October)," he mused.
"And he did it tough wide at his last start (in a Class 5 race over 1100m on 4 November). He has drawn well (in barrier one) and has no weight (on 50.5kgs) with (jockey) Iskandar's (Rosman) two-kilo claim, so hopefully he runs well."
Before the curtain closes for season 2023, Peters will be looking forward to the last feature race of the year, the Group 3 Colonial Chief Stakes (1700m) held on Saturday week. He has nominated Circuit Mission and Big Hearted in the Polytrack race and thought both could run well.
"I missed the (Group 1) (Singapore) Gold Cup with Circuit Mission because I had this race (Colonial Chief Stakes) in mind," he explained of the targeted race for the eight-year-old son of High Chaparral.
"He trialled well this morning (finished second in trial no 3 won by Lucky Jinsha) and he gets in really well at the Colonial Chief (Stakes') conditions given his rating. He has run well on the Polytrack and the distance suits, so no reason he won't run well.
"I thought Big Hearted (x Hallowed Crown) ran well in the Gold Cup as he was beaten only four lengths or so. He also had a few niggles with the firm tracks so he may enjoy the Polytrack which has some give."
Circuit Mission will be ridden by Iskandar while jockey Benny Woodworth will take the reins on Big Hearted.
