Perry plans to have two Guineas runners

Newcastle trainer Paul Perry will take the opportunity to send one of his Caulfield Guineas aspirants, The Mission, to the course for a familiarisation gallop ahead of the $2 million Classic.

While Perast has already proven himself at Caulfield by winning the Group Three Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) last start, stablemate The Mission is yet to race there.

He raced anti-clockwise, for the first time when sixth in the Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley last Friday week and will head to Caulfield on Tuesday morning for a course proper gallop with his Guineas rider Beau Mertens aboard

“He’s had a race at Moonee Valley and I think he’s got the hang of it now,” Perry said.

“He works at Flemington all the time so I don’t think it would be a worry, but it would be nice for him to have a gallop there all the same.”

Ben Melham is free to ride Perast in the Guineas after getting a careless riding suspension reduced on appeal on Monday.

Perast’s win in the Prelude didn’t surprise Perry who said his Sydney runs had been good and he believed the step up to 1600m would suit the colt who is by recognised speed sire Snitzel but gets stamina from his dam, Zabeel mare Thousand Veils.

“The way he’s bred he should love the mile and he certainly wasn’t weak at Caulfield last start,” Perry said.

“I think he’ll run very nicely.”

Perry is happy with both colts and expects Group One Champagne Stakes winner The Mission to improve on his spring performances to date.

The Mission weakened after leading to be well beaten in the Stan Fox Stakes and Golden Rose in Sydney.

“I think The Mission just hasn’t hit his straps so far this time in but I expect him to be a lot better on Guineas day,” Perry said.

“He’s always been more or less set for that race and he’s wanted a bit of racing into it.”

Perry said both horses go forward and make their own luck but he does not want to see a repeat of the Golden Rose, when The Mission and Perast took each other on before tiring for 13th and seventh respectively.

“I’d hate to sit there and have to watch that again,” he said.

Credit: AAP

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