Dead Rising 2 Otr Trainer

[Zebedeo Konig]

Itwould be fitting if a trainer as respected as David Barron could crown his career by producing a champion sprinter for Yorkshire. His measured approach gives Pearl Secret every chance of seeking some such status at Ascot next year, but in the meantime requires the colt to continue his education in relatively shallow waters.

Pearl Secret has already overcome even the circumspect instincts of his trainer to be candidly described by Barron as "definitely the quickest I've had". Remember that this is the man who saddled Coastal Bluff for a dead-heat in the 1997 Nunthorpe Stakes.

But Barron feels that the chestnut still has a lot of learning to do, and especially that he needs to become more relaxed. As he said after Pearl Secret made it three wins from three starts, at the Dante meeting at York last month: "He's got so much ability, he has no need to get worried."

Once again, he has been found a small field in the Novae Bloodstock Insurance Scurry Stakes at Sandown. Not so small, perhaps, to prevent his draw proving a minor irritation for Richard Hughes, standing in for the suspended Jamie Spencer. But Pearl Secret (3.25) won in heavy ground on his reappearance at Doncaster and should be equal to conditions, as well as the opposition.

Fennell Bay (2.50) could offer value against his seniors in what looks a fairly puzzling race, having looked progressive before failing to handle Epsom and then meeting trouble over the last two weekends.

Things look little easier at York, where the lady amateurs will be in fierce rivalry for the Queen Mother's Cup. But this will be only a third handicap start for Eagle Rock (2.05) and he shaped nicely on his reappearance over course and distance, thundering down the straight for third after the winner had seized the race by the scruff of the neck.

The most valuable prize of the day is offered for the Bond Tyres Trophy, a dazing handicap contested by 20 young sprinters, many of them still improving. Pea Shooter (3.10) could offer a bit of value, having won his maiden by six lengths here last season and shaped well on his return. He ran rather flat when well backed next time, but that was only seven days later and may have come too soon. As a result the handicapper has indulged him with a couple of pounds, and you can get better than 20-1.

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