There was a time when Robert Pearse saddled up metropolitan runners with regularity but these days the veteran trainer has scaled back his operation to just a handful of horses.
One of them, former New Zealand mare Serena (NZ) (Swiss Ace), will bid to deliver him a drought-breaking city victory when she lines up in Saturday’s Garry Burgess Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.
Pearse, who has prepared the likes of 1998 Chairman’s Handicap and Newcastle Cup winner Joss Sticks and 2003 Keith Mackay Quality winner Bella Corona, admits he cannot remember his last Saturday winner in town.
“I was thinking about it the other day and I can’t answer that. I haven’t had enough runners to be getting to the city on a Saturday,” Pearse said.
“I used to always have horses that went alright to be running on a Saturday, but it’s been a while, only because of numbers.”
Based at Randwick, Pearse decided to pare back his stable about eight years ago but he has never stepped away from the sport.
He currently has three horses under his care and there are no thoughts of retirement.
“I wound down ages ago but I’m still up and about mucking around with a few of them,” Pearse said.
“Horse trainers don’t really give it away, they just die off. It gives them something to do.
“I’m still getting up at the same time and there seven days a week. Animals need looking after, there’s no part-time with racehorses.”
Stakes placed in New Zealand, Serena was purchased by one of Pearse’s long-time clients and arrived in Australia in such good condition he pressed on with her preparation.
She has been thereabouts in three starts for the stable, her best effort coming at her latest appearance when she made good ground along the inside for fifth to Café Royale at Warwick Farm in a blanket finish.
“She ran really well the other day. The six of them went to the line together and she got beaten half a length. She is a little trier,” Pearse said.
“She’s a nice mare with a bit of an attitude. She gives you a hard time every second day and keeps you on your toes but her three runs for me have been good.”
A daughter of Swiss Ace, Serena won on debut as a two-year-old for John Bary and went on to win on a further two occasions and placing seven times before crossing the Tasman.
