[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Pearce Racing and prominent breeders Oakland Park combined for a winning double at Ascot on Saturday when Blue Rocket and Lord Vampi each scored impressive wins in their respective races.
Debutant Blue Rocket, a Blue Point two-year-old, made a promising start to her career when leading from barrier to box en route to a stylish victory in the National Pump and Energy Plate (1000m).
Starting at $6.50 with Natasha Faithfull aboard, the filly put the writing on the wall with a recent trial win at Lark Hill and never looked in danger at her first race assignment when giving a nice kick on straightening and pulling away to defeat This’ll Show Ya ($3.90) by just under two lengths.
Race-favourite Siren Assault ($2.35) finished a further three-quarter length away in third place.
Blue Rocket picked up $63,840 in stake earnings and Westspeed bonuses for her first-up win and looks like a contender for the autumn two-year-old feature races.
The final race of the day saw Lord Vampi ($2.70), also bred and part-owned by Oakland Park, justify the hype on him when stepping to Saturday grade and taking out the Black Diamond Drilling Services Australia Handicap (1400m) second-up from a spell.
The Playing God three-year-old settled leaders-back in running and was under pressure turning for home, however, he responded to rider Clint Johnston-Porter’s urgings on straightening and powered through the line to defeat Fluro Neuro ($7.50) by a long neck.
Lord Vampi is on a Group 2 WATC Derby path and has now had five career starts for two wins, two seconds and $128,210 in stake earnings and Westspeed Platinum bonuses.
Meanwhile, stablemate Black Fantasy finished a nice second first up in the Listed Detonator Stakes and Defending also ran third in his respective race on the day.
Pearce Racing will host its annual Yearling Parade at the Perth Magic Millions sales complex from 11am today where 16 yearling acquisitions will be paraded, including Lord Vampi’s half-sister (by Maschino) who was purchased for $150,000 on day one of the Perth Magic Millions sale on Thursday.