[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Pearce Racing and powerhouse breeding operation Oakland Park teamed up for a winning double at Northam on Thursday when Lord Vampi and Dun With The Blues both got their winning accounts underway.
Playing God three-year-old Lord Vampi, a son of Ben Pearce’s former Group 3 La Trice Classic-winning mare Vampi Lass, was able to justify his $1.35 favouritism when taking out the 1923 Cup Winner – Motherland Maiden (1300m).
Ridden by William Pike, the talented gelding followed up his promising debut second placing at Saturday city level with a strong performance when settling leaders-back before muscling into the clear on straightening and going on to defeat Bring The Bling ($7.50) by a length.
Royal Splendour ($26) finished a further one-and-three-quarter lengths away in third place.
The following race saw Dundeel four-year-old Dun With The Blues ($5.50) score a dominant win in the 1934 Cup Winner – Tom’s Joy Maiden (1300m) first-up from a lengthy spell.
Jockey Clint Johnston-Porter found cover in the three-wide moving line aboard the mare before peeling out turning for home and finishing off powerfully to romp in by almost three lengths.
Race-favourite Reliable Queen ($2.70) finished in second place, with Bondi’s Future ($6) a further neck away in third.
Dun With The Blues has now had four career starts for a win and two second placings and appears set for a fruitful campaign.
Meanwhile, stablemate and fellow Oakland Park-bred galloper Probity finished third in the final event on the day.
The Pearce stable will saddle-up Outspoken Lad and Westriver Miracle at Belmont and Acromantula at Moonee Valley on Saturday before Sunday’s Kalgoorlie meeting where a big team featuring Flying The Flag, Rubick Delight, Mystery Bullet, Laughing Buddha, Galaxy Affair and Bird’s The Word are engaged.