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By Tony Megahey

It was all adversity and forgive for Wiggles in a recent TAB Highway and the veteran of the field offers favourable circumstances for a series and city breakthrough for Tamworth trainer Jacob Perrett and English apprentice Cobi Vitler at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The seven-year-old was prominent in the Stewards Report from an episode at the track three weeks ago when the gelding was baulked and blundered before a strong closing third to Brett Cavanough’s Awaygoesthebunny.

So, Perrett is upbeat for Saturday’s $120,000 Class 3, 1500m with 60kg less the 3kg claim for Vitler, coincidentally apprenticed to Cavanough in his fifth season riding here and linking originally with John Sargent at Royal Randwick.

Wiggle (Braith Nock) is on song at Gunnedah. Image by Bradley Photographers

Wiggles at $11 on TAB in a wide-open market and barrier 13, is ultra-consistent, has an appealing weight drop from 59kg last start and will appreciate the extra distance, as he closed strongly at 1400m despite interference.

“He lost all momentum, a run closed on him inside, he had to balance up again - big run but likely we’ll have to go back from the draw, can’t be wide in a big field,” Perrett offered.

“For a gelding with a bit of age on him he’s racing so well, and Cobi knows him, rode him when he was placed in the Moree Cup.

“Strong enough form off a country open into a Class 3 Highway the way he's racing.

“It’s no harder than his last couple - he’s holding form and has trained on.”

Wiggles was orignally with the Ballarat stables of Mel Cunningham for just two race starts and a Swan Hill maiden win in November of 2022. At seven he has only raced on 12 occasions.

“We got him at six, late starter I’m not sure why but he came to us sound, in good order and more than paid his way.”

In his first prep for Perrett last season, Wiggles won successive races at Gunnedah and Inverell and has the productive overall record of three wins and as many placings.

Perrett, a former welder, rides his own trackwork and is building a competitive team with his wife Lasche, stable foreperson and strapper.

They’ve made rare trips to town for Highway races in recent seasons where regional winner Capitano, owned in family and friends’ interests like Wiggles, ran a couple of placings.

A recent Muswellbrook trial is a strong pointer to Saturday’s episode, won by One Beat No Beat ($14) ahead of Rajnish ($9.50) and both are prominent in Highway betting on Saturday in the widest market yet.

With better than each-way odds the favourite Hulu ($6) and scratchings and form reserves major factors.

View final fields with full form & race replays for Rosehill Gardens here