Almighty Class Out To Reclaim Lost Pride

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Thoroughbred

Trainer Mitchell Pateman was expecting Almighty Class to deliver a whole lot more than what he dished up in last month’s $5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot.

Forever the optimist, Pateman was confident Almighty Class could match it against a crack group of sprinters in Perth’s richest race, but was left lamenting after he ran an inglorious 12^th.

Almighty Class held bragging rights over Wilde Belle and Super Smink only with the pair finishing 13th and 14th respectively.

The son of Playing God had shown flashes of promise for Pateman after winning the Max Simmond Stakes (1000m) and placing second in the Belgravia Stakes (1200m) last year, but the leap to top company proved a bridge too far at this point of his career.

On the lookout for a confidence-boosting comeback performance and super keen to get a second win next to his name, Pateman has gone back to the drawing board with Almighty Class dropping back in grade and distance at Ascot on Saturday.

In a field of just five starters, Pateman is optimistic Almighty Class can run up to his best and reclaim some lost pride  in the Azure Painting Handicap (1000m).

“We press on and back to the races on Saturday.

“It’s only a five horse field and he’s back down on the minimum.

“It looks pretty suitable for him.

“He was disappointing in the Quokka, but we could find nothing amiss with him.

“I’ll probably take him through his grades now.

“He’s still reasonably low rated.

“Hopefully win a couple of rating races and we can then aim back up for the summer carnival.

“He’s only had a few starts, but only has won one race.

“We need to win a few and probably aim back up again.”

Almighty Class has drawn barrier one. Allocated 55kg the three-year-old will be ridden by Holly Watson.

Meanwhile, Pateman believes the Group 3 WA Sires’ (1400m) is Bustling’s to win, but says anywhere in the first four will be a good outcome for Chest With Swagger.

The I’m All The Talk gelding is on the quick turnaround after coming from last and finishing seventh behind Gold Flakes, beaten three lengths, when on debut last week.

“He’s a really good horse and I don’t think many people would have missed his run Saturday,” Pateman said.

“It’s well short of his preferred journey, 1100m, but he stormed home from last.

“He’ll love 1400m and it wouldn’t surprise me if he ran in the first three or four.”

Bustling the hot favourite after destroying his opposition in the Karrakatta Plate (1200m).

Julio Santarelli