[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Deepest Desire and Under Influence brought up a winning double for Pearce Racing at Belmont Park on Wednesday.
Ridden by William Pike first up from a spell, Deepest Desire was backed into $3.40 second favouritism prior to the running of the Drummond Gold Maiden (1000m) and followed up his encouraging recent trial win at Lark Hill with a sharp fresh performance.
The Deep Field three-year-old was sent straight to the lead by Pike and he was able to dictate terms before kicking away on straightening to hold off race-favourite Sunset Session ($2.40) by just under a length on the line.
Noneofyourbusiness ($19) finished a further half-length away in third place.
Purchased by Pearce Racing for $130,000 at the 2024 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Deepest Desire has always shown above-average ability but was plagued by soundness and behavioural troubles through the early stages of his career.
The lightly-raced gelding has now had three career starts for a win, a third and a fifth.
Later in the day, stablemate Under Influence ($10) broke a 669-day winning drought when taking out the Reliable Asset Maintenance Handicap (1000m) with Austin Galati aboard.
The Caravaggio six-year-old jumped from the outside barrier in the nine-horse field and settled three-wide-with-cover before peeling out to be the widest runner on straightening.
The grey continued to click through his gears before hitting the front in the shadows of the post to defeat race-favourite Mai Aloha ($3.70) by a head.
Mandible Magic ($16) finished a further half-length away in third place.
Formerly an $11,000 yearling purchase at the 2021 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Under Influence has now had 44 career starts for six wins, 13 minor placings and $267,656 in stake earnings and is a chance of backing up off a three-day turnaround at Belmont on Saturday.
The Pearce stable will saddle up Toronado Rocket and Soso Lucky at Pinjarra on Thursday before Saturday’s Belmont meeting where God’s Grin, A Summer Fling and Exceltrain are also engaged.