[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Starring Knight and Surf Patrol brought up a winning double for Pearce Racing and jockey Tash Faithfull at Geraldton on Sunday.
Starring Knight, a Shooting To Win six-year-old, was backed from $4.40 into $3.70 prior to the running of Geraldton Toyota Handicap (1213m) and relished a drop in class after racing in higher grade at his previous 14 starts.
Faithfull settled the gelding one-out and three-back behind a fast tempo and he rocketed home down the middle of the track to reel in the pacemakers and pull away to score by two lengths on the line.
Safe Hustle ($10) finished second, with race-favourite Sure No Something ($2.60) a further head away in third place.
Purchased by Pearce Racing at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions yearling sale, Starring Knight has now had 33 career starts for eight wins, four minor placings and $202,670 in total earnings.
The following race saw stablemate Surf Patrol showcase his talent despite his greenness when taking out the 65Thirty Events & Entertainment Handicap (1213m).
Starting the $2.70 off the back of an Albany maiden victory, the Bondi three-year-old settled one-out and two-back in the run and was noticeably wayward on straightening but Faithfull was able to extricate him into clear passing the 200m.
The gelding responded to her urgings over the final stages to hit the front at the precise moment and hold off the fast-finishing Wunderkind ($11) by a head.
Sparkle Corner finished a further long-neck away in third place.
The progressive Surf Patrol has now recorded two wins and a third from four starts in his first race preparation, with earnings totaling $47,087 including Westspeed Platinum bonuses.
Meanwhile, fellow Pearce-trained gallopers Art Session, Desert Edge and Striking Fella finished second, third and third respectively in other races on the Geraldton program.