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A wide barrier is not an ideal scenario, but co-trainer Ben Pearce is confident Manavendra is good enough to overcome it in Sunday’s Esperance Cup.

"Tuesday morning, he galloped and I was extremely confident and then the barrier draw came out," Ben Pearce told The Races WA.

"It dented my confidence a bit, but it's the sort of track you can probably be three deep down the middle of the track and it's not a bad thing.

"It's always easier when you draw a good gate, but the horse is going well and is in good order."

Manavendra scored his first campaign win at Albany and followed up at Ascot with an impressive performance, charging down the outside and going to the line untouched for jockey Clint Johnston Porter.

Manavendra then ran third to Beats Of War, who at that point was in ripping form with a winning hat trick, before finishing a luckless 12th of 14 at Pinjarra last start which Pearce says you can completely forget.

"His win at Ascot was superb," Pearce said.

"And then at his next start I thought he sat a bit closer and got a little bit keen in the run and that probably told on him late.

"At Pinjarra he had no luck at all and rule a line through that, Clint (Johnston-Porter) got off and said the horse is going well.

"Clint's happy to come down and stick with him.

"I think he would have to be one of the main chances I would say."

Manavendra can help Johnston-Porter maintain his recent good record in the Esperance Cup.

In 2022 he guided home Off Wego and last year with the same horse he ran a head second to Soviet Spy.

Meanwhile, a day earlier at Ascot, Pearce, who co-trains with his brother, Dan, is looking forward to saddling up Pull The Trigger in the Listed Lex Piper Stakes (1600m).

A $23 outsider, Pull The Trigger faces a steep class rise from his second placing to Another Strike in a special conditions race when first up at Ascot last start.

The son of Patronize made good ground from sixth position at the turn and was beaten 1 ¼ lengths.

"I thought it was a really good run first up considering the slow tempo of the race," Pearce said.

"Our other horse in the race which we rated, Decoration, he got back and couldn't make ground.

"I thought Pull The Trigger was the standout run considering that.

"I'd be happy to see him settle mid field and run past a few.

"He's got plenty of ability and a good turn of foot.

"It wouldn't surprise me to see him play a part in it."

Pull The Trigger will be ridden by Natasha Faithfull and has drawn barrier 5.