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By Ray Hickson

The Patrician may be small in stature but trainer Robert Pearse says the gelding makes up for it by putting 100 per cent into his racing.

But therein lies a problem for Pearse – he’d dearly love to be able to give The Patrician relief from his 59kg but his consistency keeps him at the top of the weights.

The four-year-old broke through for his maiden victory at start seven at Kembla Grange and attempts the unenviable task of going back to back in the Bob & Julie Carroll 40th Anniversary Handicap (1300m) at Hawkesbury on Wednesday.

He carried 59kg to his Kembla win on January 3 and has the same impost as he rises to Class 1 company.

“He tries hard, he gives his all and that’s a big plus,’’ Pearse said.

The Patrician's easy maiden win at Kembla Grange - January 3

“He’s lightly raced but he’s a four-year-old and the weight was grabbing him a bit.

“But he’s not really a kid’s horse and if you’re going to claim at the provincials the top riders with allowances in town some have no claim at the provincials. And he’s not a horse to be putting an inexperienced apprentice on.’’

The Patrician was a late starter to racing, he didn’t make his debut until May last year as a late season three-year-old.

Pearse said the gelding was broken in down in Victoria and had two pre-trainers before coming to his stable as he was proving quite a handful.

That was on show at his debut at Hawkesbury where he ran off the track and cost himself any chance. To date that run is the only time he’s missed a placing.

The Patrician‘s performance in finally breaking his maiden was a prime example of the effort he puts in and Punters Intel data showed he covered an extra 10m in the run but still hit the line in 11.53 for his last 200m.

Pearse, who only trains a small team of about five at Randwick, said he can’t fault the horse heading to Hawkesbury.

“I’m trying to pick the right races and you can’t run him too quickly,’’ he said.

“He’s no star but he’s honest and that helps horses go a bit further than horses that don’t give their all.

“It was a good effort but at the end of the day it was a maiden. When you win your maiden it’s hard to go to the next step.’’

Adam Hyeronimus rides The Patrician again on Wednesday.

Check out the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's meeting at Hawkesbury