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By Ray Hickson

Country life is agreeing with unbeaten mare Pleasurize and if she can make it three from three at Moruya on Sunday, trainer Luke Pepper will look to sent her back to the city for a Highway.

Trainer Luke Pepper

The four-year-old trialled a couple of times last spring for Bjorn Baker but it was decided by Darby Racing to give her a change of environment and Pepper says the evidence of it working wonders for her is in the form guide.

“Darby is a big supporter of mine, and we really appreciate their support,’’ Pepper said.

“I don’t think she enjoyed being in Sydney. She’s a bit of a buzzy filly but is a bit more laid back with us.

“After she came to us she just got better and better, I don’t know whether it’s a confidence thing.

“She’s surprised us where she’s ended up because early on she didn’t show us too much.”

Pleasurize made her debut at Moruya in early March and recorded an all the way win, beating a horse that’s won three races since, and backed it up later in the month at Goulburn.

It could easily have been three wins had she not been scratched at the barriers from a Benchmark 58 at Orange on April 11.

“She reared up in the gates and got her foot over, it wasn’t really her fault as one went off beside her so I just tipped her out,’’ he said.

“She was going to go to the paddock win, lose, or draw.”

Pepper is pleased with how she presents for the Moruya Bowling Club Handicap (1020m) and said she’s had two unofficial jump outs to get her ready for a resumption.

Claire Ramsbotham has been on board in all three starts and with her 2kg claim will get in with 53.5kg in the Class 3 sprint.

“I thought her win at Goulburn was great, it’s never easy to go to that level after you maiden and I reckon it’s one of the hardest steps to make,’’ he said.

“The form around her is strong and it’s good to have her back and we’ll see how she goes. She’s very straightforward and tough.

“She’s quite quick and can sustain a good gallop all the way so at the moment the 1000m will be our go.

“This prep we will look to get over a bit further but it’s a good place to kick her off and it gives her an opportunity to get this run under her belt.”

Pepper said he’ll look to tackle a Class 3 Highway over 1000m for Pleasurize’s next start if she’s able to win with the next one on the calendar coming up in a month’s time at Randwick.

Stablemate Lord Finland will be second-up in the Bateman’s Bay Bowling Club Handicap (1210m) and he’s coming back in distance from his first run since March and Pepper said he’s in need of match practice.

“He needs to get a few runs under his belt to get some fitness into his legs and he’s better suited out to a mile later in the preparation,’’ he said.

The Canberra trainer will save Soul Taker from her Moruya assignment in favour of the Thanks Janian McMillan Handicap (2006m) at Bathurst on Monday.

Pleasurize wins at Goulburn in March

The five-year-old has been unplaced in three runs back but Pepper said she’s on target to find something like her best form.

“She’s been going really well and looking for a bit further,’’ he said.

“The track didn’t suit her the other day, she was stuck on the inside and you needed to be on the outside fence.”

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday’s Moruya meeting