You never stop learning as Warrnambool trainer Aaron Purcell can vouch for.
What may appear right on the surface can prove the opposite as Purcell and connections of Prospectus have found out.
After putting together three straight wins on his home track, Prospectus heads to Moonee Valley on Saturday to run in the Ladbrokes Mates Mode Handicap (2040m) instead of contesting either the Camperdown Cup (1600m) on Saturday or the Great Western Cup (1950m) on Sunday.
Having started his career with Chris Waller in Queensland, Prospectus joined Purcell at the end of 2021 and had his first start at Warrnambool last January, finishing fourth to Tuvalu.
That performance gave Purcell heart for the upcoming preparation, but the only win Prospectus was able to gather was at Mount Gambier in April.
Purcell said a number of factors went against Prospectus, but now the gelding has struck winning form.
“Last preparation I bought him still in work and he’d had a fair bit of racing, but he looked well but just wasn’t racing at his best,” Purcell said.
“We gave him a break, expecting him to be better next time in, but he hit a few wet tracks early in the preparation which he didn’t really fire on, but getting on top of the ground he has got better and better as the preparation has gone on.
“He’s a horse that looks and moves like he should handle a soft track, but he just doesn’t like them, and it took a few runs for us to work that out.”
Since striking firmer footing this preparation, Prospectus has three wins, two seconds and a ninth, at Moonee Valley, when Purcell said the gelding could not get up near his favoured on-speed position.
“He got beaten for speed and got into an awkward spot and didn’t get into the race,” Purcell said.
“But he’s up a little in distance, is fitter and in better form now. Linda (Meech) rode him last time and rated him well, so let’s hope she can do so again.”