[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Co-trainers Daniel and Ben Pearce combined with jockey Chris Parnham for a race-to-race double at Ascot on Saturday.
Two-year-old filly Talkanco set tongues wagging with an ultra-impressive victory at her race debut before stablemate Climb On Top caused an upset at his return to racing not long after.
Talkanco ($3.10), a daughter of I’m All The Talk, produced a sensational first-up performance in the Magic Millions Plate (1100m) when settling in the second-half of her 13-horse field and rounding up her rivals within a few big bounds to win by a length-and-three-quarters pulling away.
She defeated last-start winner Strideaway ($4.40), with Backchatting ($201) more than three lengths away in third place.
Bred and part-owned by Woodbridge Thoroughbreds, Talkanco is the half-sister to talented stablemate Richanco and was one of the more impressive two-year-old winners at Ascot in recent memory.
Meanwhile, Demerit five-year-old Climb On Top snuck under the guard as a $17 outsider when taking out the TABtouch Westspeed Platinum Series Heat 2 (1200m) first-up from a spell.
Parnham settled the gelding three-wide with cover within striking distance before peeling to the middle of the track on straightening and collaring race-leader King Cartel ($8.50) in the final stride.
He won by a head, with Mia Gusto ($16) a further length away in third place.
The Oakland Park-bred Climb On Top has now won five of his 13 career starts and accumulated total earnings of $149,065.
The Pearce stable will saddle up a two-pronged attack with Decoration and Outspoken Lad in Sunday’s $70,000 TABtouch York Cup (1920m), with debutant Noble Connection also engaged on the eight-event program.