Bob Peters sends star squad to country trainer John Leek Jnr

[Wandering Eyes]

Showmanship makes it three wins from four starts as he bolts home at Belmont. (Photo: Simon Merritt/Western Racepix)

Bob Peters has chosen to send a squad of his star gallopers to the little-known trainer John Leek Jnr for Melbourne’s autumn carnival, transferring them from Victorian trainer Danny O’Brien.

After a short stint with O’Brien, Peters has now teamed up with Leek with more of his runners after he “trialled” him with Picture Perfect and Zaratite last month.

“A fellow I know rang me and recommended him,” Peters said of Leek.

“It’s a family operation and smaller operation in the country that suits us.

“Picture Perfect and Zaratite needed a different environment and I just thought I would give him a trial with these other ones.

“Bright Diamond, Secret Plan, Frigid and unraced four-year-old Truly Blessed have also gone over and they all need wet tracks.”

With all of these horse being sent to Leek, it now means that Peters has no horses in training with O’Brien.

Midnight Blue and Inspirational Girl have been spelled for the remainder of the spring, after they were unable to secure spots in the Melbourne Cup.

The Group 3 Show County Quality at Randwick in August this year was the only winner for the Peters and O’Brien combination, when Showmanship was victorious in the race.

Regal Power and Western Empire were two of the star gallopers that Peters recalled, with both failing to leave their mark in the Melbourne Spring Carnival after just two starts.

Graceful Girl and Showmanship were also injured in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield in September of this year, leaving O’Brien with just Midnight Blue and Inspirational Girl as the fit horses out of the squad of stars that Peters had initially sent over for the carnival.

Peters said Picture Perfect would start his path to the Jericho Cup at Ararat on November 6.

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