Mitchell Pateman talked the good talk but at just his sixth start against quality opposition, Almighty Class found the going tough when 12th of 14 to Overpass in The Quokka (1200m).
Seven months on from the Quokka let down, Almighty Class is having another crack at top shelf company and this time Pateman believes the gelding is in better shape to handle the class jump.
With the benefit of maturity and race experience, Almighty Class has hardly missed a beat since coming back and got his winning mojo back in two low key ratings races before a brave fourth in the Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m).
Almighty Class was in the mix to figure in the finish behind the winner, Rope Them In, but felt the pinch over the last 100m after a difficult run out wide. Although beaten, his tough effort to stick it out earned high praise from Pateman.
“He had the hardest run in the race and I thought he acquitted himself very well,” Pateman said.
“And that’s not sort of him, he’s very brilliant not tough and he stuck on well considering the run he had.
“He’s been set for this the whole way through, his fourth up, fit and as good a chance as any from WA.
“Hopefully we can get a Group 1 on Saturday.”
That ambitious task was made somewhat more achievable for Pateman with Almighty Class drawing ideally in barrier five.
It brought about an immediate response from punters with his Tabtouch odds tightening from $19 to $13.
It’s a trump card for Pateman with top on-speed fancies Overpass and local gun, Bravo Centurion to jump from barriers 16 and 15 respectively.
Overpass, undefeated in Perth after two Quokka (1200m) wins and last year’s Winterbottom Stakes, maintains his grip as the $3.10 favourite.
Western Empire is the second elect at $4.60 with the Neasham-Archibald mare, Lady Laguna, one of three interstate visitors, a $5.50 hope.
Pateman said Almighty Class, with Jarrad Noske to ride, will be afforded every opportunity to win the Winterbottom from a perfect gate.
“I would have thought he runs a big race,” Pateman said.
“With a more economical run he probably wins the Colonel Reeves.
“Now that he’s drawn a barrier he’s going to be camped on the speed.
“It’s what we wanted and he’ll be given every opportunity.”
Confident he has the locals covered, Pateman still holds respect for Overpass.
The Vancouver gelding has been impregnable in Perth, but Pateman hopes Almighty Class can find a chink in his armour.
“Overpass if he turns up is different gravy,” Pateman said.
“We just have to hope and pray that he’s not in 100 per cent order, because if he is, he is very hard to beat.”