Don’tgetcaught trainer Ben Pearce has his eyes on next Sunday’s $130,000 XXXX Gold Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m) after a superb win in last weekend’s Boulder Cup, Ben will also saddle up Raising Dubai (Joe Azzopardi) for the feature Cup worth $130,000.1st $83,200, 2nd $26,000, 3rd $11,700, 4th $5,200, 5th $2,600, 6th $1,300 of LISTED Quality.
The gelding’s triumph in the $100,000 Statewest Group Boulder Cup (2100m) represented a dream debut in the race for Pearce, with Don’tgetcaught (Peter Hall) storming home to win by a long head.
It was a far cry from the events of the Coolgardie Cup a fortnight earlier, when Don’tgetcaught finished 12th.
Despite that result, Pearce had kept the faith in what had been a case of trial and error in the lead-up.
“It was my first (Boulder Cup) runner and first winner, so I couldn’t be happier,” he said.
“But even in the Coolgardie, I felt he was a big chance, but things didn’t go his way, although he raced quite fiercely.
“We decided to take the blinkers off him yesterday (Sunday) and he settled a lot better back in the field.
“Also this time, he travelled up a lot better.
“The first time was pretty much a practice run and the second time around, he knew what it was all about and handled it well.”
Pearce has 22 horses at his Lark Hill stable, with his last Round appearance a few years ago with an unsuccessful tilt at the Coolgardie Cup.
“I’m pretty sure we’ll be back next weekend for the Kalgoorlie Cup,” he said. “I spoke to the handicapper this morning (Monday) and he indicated we’d only get a kilo-and-a-half.
“The horse seems great, he was as bright as a button actually, and has handled everything well.
“He’ll be my first runner in the Kalgoorlie Cup and a good performance would be fantastic.”
(Don’t Get Caught jockey Peter Hall and trainer Ben Pearce with the trophy after winning the Statewest Group-Boulder Cup 2100m. Picture: Mary Meagher).