Peck is showing positive signs and on raw ability should be winning the Diggers’ Cup (1800m) at Ascot on Saturday, according to trainer, Adam Durrant.
Peck is on the quick back-up after handing Durrant his fifth Albany Cup success when he stormed home in an exciting finish to the $90,000 feature on Sunday.
Bought for $27,000 from the powerful Darley draft at the Gold Coast Magic Millions sales last June, Peck landed his first win in Western Australia.
He raced for Robert Gulberti in Broome last year with mixed results; a rattling third in the Kimberley Cup (2020m) before an eighth in the Broome Cup (2100m).
The Pivotal six-year-old returned and showed he had benefited from an extensive break with an eye-catching second in the Narrogin Cup (1900m).
Peck meets a small field of eight in the Diggers’ Cup, including stable mate Ora Dare, but on his current output he looks the horse to beat.
“If the right Peck turns up he will be too good for those,” said Durrant on Tab Radio.
“He is a hand-me-down from Darley and they don’t get rid of horses for no reason.
“He obviously has got a few issues but we seem to be on top of them and he appears to be really thriving and improving with each run.
“Those types of horses generally go backwards and not forwards but he has been able to reproduce it twice with an even better run second-up.
“If he turns up and everything goes to plan he will be winning on Saturday.”
Durrant has a healthy opinion of Dragonlead but says the four-year-old is on trial heading into the Racing At Belmont Park Next Saturday Handicap (1800m).
The Black Tom gelding is working his way to peak fitness after finishing seventh in two return runs over 1400m and 1800m respectively.
“He is a horse who could put five or six together once he gets everything right,” said Durrant.
“I do really like him and hope at some point he is not just a pretender.
“He is giving us all the indications that he has the capacity to get up over a good long journey and be a solid stayer.
“His run last start was excellent and only good ones can generally break 34sec.
“The next six months is going to be interesting with this guy because he is on the borderline as to whether he can take that next step or he is going to float around in the middle of the range.”
Drummoorum is looking for successive victories after Priscilla Schmidt rode him from last in the National Apprentice Challenge (1500m) at Ascot last week.
The Key Business gelding, with Ben Paterson in the saddle, meets a similar line up in the Imagesource Display Systems handicap (1500m).
“He really hit the line the other day in a questionable form race but this race is reading pretty similar,” said Durrant.
“His form this preparation has been good and every run he has been closing strong which tells me he is in good nick.
“If he gets luck in running and a good ride from Mr Patterson he will be finishing the race off very strong.”