PETERS' STAR STEP OUT AHEAD OF SPRING

Melbourne racegoers are likely to see a lot more of the pink and white silks worn by powerful owner Bob Peters’ horses over the coming months.

Peters has sent a large team of horses to Danny O’Brien’s stable, with several of those gallopers jumping out at Geelong on Wednesday morning, while the Melbourne Cup winning conditioner also has the likes of Perth Cup winner Midnight Blue and prolific winner Showmanship in his care.

Blamey Stakes winner Inspirational Girl jumped out on Wednesday as she prepares for her second spring as part of the O’Brien team.

“We’ve just done a few things different with her, she’s done a lot of dressage, which she’s appreciated,” O’Brien said.

“I was really pleased with her this morning, Damian Lane knows her very, very well and he was very pleased with her. She had had a tendency to hang a little bit last autumn for us, but she went really straight this morning.

“She seems to be in really good shape.”

While Inspirational Girl’s two biggest wins have been over 1600m, O’Brien suggested that she could step up beyond that distance this campaign.

“I think Bob’s keen to potentially see her out to 2000m and further,” he said.

“We’d be excited to see that this spring.”

Although Inspirational Girl has been with O’Brien for over a year, the Flemington and Barwon Heads based trainer has recently taken over the training of Western Australian wonders Regal Power, Western Empire and Graceful Girl.

Regal Power is no stranger to Victorian racing as the winner of the 2020 All-Star Mile, and he had his second jump out this preparation on Wednesday.“We’ve been very pleased with him,” O’Brien said.

“He’s been with us for a good bit over the winter now and he’s got a good fitness base.

Damien Oliver trialled him at Flemington and was happy, he was happy again this morning.

“He will be ready to kick off in the spring in the next four or five weeks.”

O’Brien has liked what he’s seen so far from the dual group one winner.

“He’s a very tough horse, he’s got a beautiful action, he just moves very, very well, and whatever you do with him on the training track, he takes it really well and continues to improve out of it,” he said.

Western Empire was one of the dominant forces in Perth last year, winning six consecutive races, including the WATC Derby and the Railway Stakes, and his new trainer was pleased with the way that he travelled in his jump out.

“He’s still a horse that’s learning his craft a bit,” O’Brien said.

“I was very pleased with him this morning that he relaxed early in the trial, Damian Lane was able to bring him back, he travelled really nicely within himself and was still strong late in the trial.

“He’s had a couple (of trials) now; he’ll probably have another one before we decide where he goes to the races.”

Story by Edward Sadler for Racing.com

Pic by Racing Photos