Former Irish galloper Aesop is edging closer to his first start in Australia, after he finished third in a trial at Traralgon on Wednesday morning.
Aesop was previously trained by Jessica Harrington in Ireland, where he won over 2000m at both Leopardstown and Cork but has now made his way to Phillip Stokes’ stable at Pakenham.
Wednesday’s trial came eight days after the son of Make Believe had a jumpout at his new home track.
“I thought it was very good for a stayer, just over 1100m,” Stokes said of the trial.
“He’s probably got to have one more of those, but he’s shown me he’s going in the right direction. Can’t wait until we get him fit enough to step out.”
Stokes described Aesop as a ‘lovely horse’ with ‘a great temperament’, but he hasn’t got a set date for when the import will have his first start for his stable.
“He’ll have another trial in a fortnight, so he’s probably about a month off,” he said.
“There’s no rush. We’ll start him off low and let him find his way, but I think he’s going to make a nice stayer.”
This story was written by Edward Sadler and can be read in full through Racing.com here (includes a replay of trial).