Trainers Colin and Cindy Alderson, who have played a waiting game with stoutly-bred six-year-old Pergola, will finally get a feel for his ability in the Listed Bagot Handicap at Flemington.Injuries and temperament issues have plagued the gelding who has won three of his 18 starts and now faces his biggest test in Saturday's 2800m feature."He's been a horse we have had to wait for for a long time," Cindy Alderson said."He's had niggling problems all the way through including his temperament but w

Trainers Colin and Cindy Alderson, who have played a waiting game with stoutly-bred six-year-old Pergola, will finally get a feel for his ability in the Listed Bagot Handicap at Flemington.

Injuries and temperament issues have plagued the gelding who has won three of his 18 starts and now faces his biggest test in Saturday's 2800m feature.

"He's been a horse we have had to wait for for a long time," Cindy Alderson said.

"He's had niggling problems all the way through including his temperament but we have always thought he would be a horse who would excel over a staying trip."

Pergola's wins have been over 1614m, 2025m and most recently at Moonee Valley over 2500 metres six starts ago in September 2009 before a leg injury sidelined him for 13 months.

It has been a long road back to the track for the gelding but the Aldersons are more than hopeful the wait will be worth it.

The Bagot will be Pergola's sixth run back this campaign and a timely improvement last start, when beaten two lengths in finishing fourth to Butwaittheresmore over 2500 metres at Flemington on December 18, has given him genuine claims in the race.

"The Bagot was the sort of race we always had in mind for him," Alderson said.

"He needs somewhere around 2400 metres or beyond and he probably just needed that run the other day."

Alderson's concern is that Pergola can be his own worst enemy and can fire up on race day.

The last time that happened was in the Ballarat Cup and he finished last.

"It is the unknown with him until you get to the races," Alderson said.

"I am pretty sure he will run the trip out on Saturday and if he is in the right frame of mind he will be competitive."

Colin Alderson knows what it takes to win the Bagot having won it three times in the last 20 years with Camilla (1990), Kara Koram (1992) and French Resort (1996).

TAB Sportsbet has Pergola at $10 for him to add to that tally.

Topweight Macedonian heads the market at $3.50 as he attempts to try to win with a post-war record weight of 59kg.

Titus Vinius ($5.50), Interlocking ($6) and Saddler's Story ($8) are others in the market.