[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Rommel gelding Noble Connection returned to his best form at Belmont on Wednesday when taking out the TABtouch Have You Got The Touch Handicap (1650m).
The four-year-old ran a distant last at his previous start over 2200m 18 days earlier which came off the back of two slashing wins and a narrow runner-up finish and he responded in the best way possible to prove that his surprisingly-poor performance was just a blip on the radar.
Partnered by regular rider Clint Johnston-Porter who rode a winning treble on the day, the big bay jumped a $5 chance and settled three-wide with cover towards the rear of his 10-horse field before peeling out six-wide as the widest runner turning for home.
He stormed home in the straight to defeat Sketta ($26) by a neck, with Keggs Later ($4.80) a further two lengths away in third place.
The victory was Noble Connection’s third of his preparation and takes the progressive gelding’s race record to 11 starts for four wins, three second placings and $147,571 in stake earnings and Westspeed Platinum bonuses.
Meanwhile, the Pearce stable will saddle up a strong team at Northam on Thursday featuring Prince, Celebrity Angel, Productive, Gingeriffic, Hello Veneta and Manhattan Strip before Saturday’s Belmont meeting where Rock Fest, Moonshine Queen, Under Influence and Desert Edge are engaged.
Stablemates Ginger Baker and Decoration are set to contest Sunday’s $100,000 Coolgardie Cup (1760m) at Kalgoorlie.