[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Pearce Racing celebrated a wonderful half hour on Saturday when preparing an Ascot winner and a Narrogin Cup quinella in quick succession.
In-form gelding Rally The Troops kicked things off when scoring an exhilarating last-to-first win in the Bisley Workwear Handicap (1400m) at Ascot to land back-to-back victories.
Ridden by star apprentice Holly Nottle who rode a winning treble on the day, the Blue Point four-year-old started a $7 chance was still at the rear of the nine-horse field turning for home on a day where on-speed runners were most favoured but he rocketed down the centre of the track to hit the front 25m from the line.
He was able to defeat Pond Master ($7) by a three-quarter length, with Odinaka ($12) a further nose away in third place.
Purchased by Pearce Racing for $50,000 at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions Winter Yearling Sale, Rally The Troops is in career-best form and has now had 22 career starts for six wins, five minor placings and $200,615 in total earnings.
Barely 15 minutes later the stable’s day got even better when Outspoken Lad defeated stablemate Decoration to quinella the $70,000 Swan Draught Narrogin Cup (1900m).
Starting the $3.40 favourite, Outspoken Lad landed one-out and one-back from barrier two before being put into the race by rider Kyra Yuill passing the 600m mark and he eventually wore down the leader, Decoration ($6.50), on straightening before pulling away late to win by more than two lengths.
Duchees Demerit ($12) finished a further two-and-a-half lengths away in third place.
Outspoken Lad’s win is his third country Cup success this season after taking out both the Carnarvon Cup (2000m) and Esperance Cup (2000m) over the past seven months.
The Awesome Rock seven-year-old was purchased by Pearce Racing for $60,000 at the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale and has now accumulated $426,309 in stake and Westspeed Platinum earnings courtesy of eight wins and 11 minor placings from 42 career starts.