A bit of poetic licence there Kev, Was he $158 at his last start? Dropping in class at Charlton?
Inconsistencies, as you refer to it, never happen in the gallops?
Obviously the owner, who was the trainer, must have known the horse had ability. Not the first time a horse has been sent to a bigger stable, gallops or trots, to get the best out of him/her even if it's only to access higher quality training partners.
A true inconsistency would be, which I'd imagine the stewards would QPP, was if he performed poorly at his next start.
Shepparton. Trial 1. Via the HRV website Trial replays http://www.hrv.org.au/racing/trial-replays/ and was also on http://www.sheppartonhrc.com.au/ in that week.