He's A Pearl Follows Mother's Temora Cup Trail

Andy Lord takes winning feature races in his stride, but there's no doubt He's A Pearl's victory in the Group 3 Temora Cup final (457m) on Sunday night was extra special for the prolific Gunning trainer.

Blueblood He's A Pearl gave Lord his sixth Temora Cup title, with the son of Fernando Bale following his champion mother She's A Pearl, a two-time Cup winner, onto the race's honour roll.

"I would've been happy for any of our three to win it, but deep down I wanted him to win it," Lord admitted.

"A lot of people say that champion bitches don't throw, well She's A Pearl is the exception to the rule. She thrown and she's making her mark as a brood bitch now."

Lord and wife Jodie have now won four of the last six Temora Cups, with Mr. Ticket victorious in 2021 and She's A Pearl going back-to-back in 2022-23.

"My first Temora Cup winner was Clover Lad (2000), a dog I paid $6000 for at a time when I didn't have a lot of money," Lord recalled.

"Then there was Addict's Actor (2002), which was raced by one of our great owners in Mark England, and it's gone on from there."

Lord made an eleventh hour decision to nominate He's A Pearl for the Temora Cup heats, with the late call returning a $40,000 dividend.

"He wasn't coming here," Lord said.

"I nominated him at the last minute because they were short of a few noms. I wasn't sure if I'd run him but when I saw his field and he drew box two I decided to bring him.

"I'd trialled the others, but I hadn't trialled him. But he won his heat and he won again tonight."

He's A Pearl won his Cup heat in 25.53, with kennelmates Secret Bandit and Classy Bandit joining him in the final.

Fastest heat winner Eriza Sparkles (box 5) started $2.20 favourite, with He's A Pearl (box 8) the $3.10 second elect.

He's A Pearl was best to begin, before being outpaced by Paul Braddon's $26 outsider How High which led deep into the home straight before He's A Pearl finished powerfully along the inside to score by 2.25 lengths in 25.27.

Raced by the Lords and Stuart and Nicole Dickinson, He's A Pearl has now won 12 of his 24 starts, with his growing resume also featuring the Richmond Puppy Classic and feature appearances in the G2 Richmond Derby, The Collerson and MDC Young Star, with earnings of $234,000.

He's A Pearl will now strive to emulate his illustrious mother on a much greater stage, the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg, with Lord having no doubt he's up to the challenge.

"My word he is," Lord said.

"He only turned two in October and I still think there's a bit more in him.

"He went from 29.50 at Wenty to 29.20 and now he's won a Temora Cup.

"His mother had a very similar preparation to win the Egg and I'm not afraid to take on any dogs with him. He's a very good dog."