A wide barrier is not an ideal scenario, but co-trainer Ben Pearce is confident Manavendra is good enough to overcome it in Sunday’s Esperance Cup.

Ben Pearce was an admirer of Sinful Living’s return fourth to Golden Vale and predicts the filly will be even better for her next clash at Pinjarra on Saturday.

Ben Pearce said racing at Moonee Valley was too good an opportunity to pass up for Acromantula who will look to end his Melbourne campaign on a winning high.

One of Dan and Ben Pearce’s talented horses is gearing up for a return to the racetrack following an injury-enforced layoff.

Acromantula represents the Pearce stable in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday and the confidence levels are high that their speedy sprinter has made improvement from a top Melbourne debut.