Almighty Class Holds Superior Form Reference, Says Pateman

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Thoroughbred

Trainer Mitchell Pateman got exactly the kind of barrier he wanted and says it gives Almighty Class every opportunity to win the Listed Tabtouch-Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday.

The $500,000 Placid Ark has attracted 15-starters and Almighty Class, runner-up to gun filly Super Smink in the Belgravia Stakes (1200m), will jump from barrier two for jockey, Jarrad Noske.

“My cousin asked what barrier I wanted to draw and I said between one and four, so happy days,” Pateman said to The Races WA.

“I think the barrier draw suits us better than anyone, so thinking we are the winner out of that.

“It just means Jarrad can just jump and sit off them and have him wherever he is happy now.

“If he gets cover and tempo on Saturday we’ll see a better horse.”

Almighty Class underlined his Ascot carnival credentials with an authoritative 1 ½ length victory when first-up in the Max Simmonds Stakes (1000m).

The three-year-old bounced back solidly and lived up to Pateman’s hype after he didn’t handle the heavy track when a disappointing sixth on debut at Belmont in July.

Almighty Class loomed the winner in the Belgravia Stakes when he shot clear at the top of the straight, but was mowed down late by Super Smink in the Listed race.

Despite the menacing presence of boom gelding Oscar’s Fortune in the Placid Ark Stakes, Pateman is confident his son of Playing God is the one that rivals will all have to beat.

The explosive Oscar’s Fortune, trained by Dion Luciani, hasn’t been beaten in four 1000m events, but Pateman believes the Belgravia Stakes will prove to be a superior form race.

“Take nothing away from Oscar’s Fortune, he’s a very good horse, but he hasn’t been in the company that my bloke has,” Pateman said.

“The Placid Ark Prelude form is probably not quite as strong as the Belgravia, but you have to respect winning form.

“They’re generally hard to beat when they’re unbeaten, but my bloke is a good horse.

“He’s pretty close to the mark and wasn’t far off last start (Belgravia Stakes), but has probably improved a little bit.

“The three weeks between runs will really suit him and do the world of good.

“The Belgravia Stakes was a proper race and they are as good as three-year-olds that we’ve got.”

Pateman said depending on Saturday’s outcome, he’s keen to give Almighty Class an opportunity in next month’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).

“He’ll need to win to go to a Winterbottom,” Pateman said.

“If he does that’s the logical step, but whatever wins will be in my opinion the leading WA hope in the Winterbottom.”

Oscar’s Fortune has drawn barrier eight for champion jockey, William Pike.