Up-and-coming staying mare Baffling returned to winning form at Bunbury on Wednesday when taking out the LJ Hooker Bunbury Collie Handicap (2238m).
The Blackfriars four-year-old, starting on the third line of betting at $5.50, was having the eighth start of her debut race preparation when aided by a perfect ride from jockey Joseph Azzopardi.
After jumping from barrier two, Baffling settled third on the rails behind the race leader, Contentional ($10), before sticking to the inside entering the home straight and finishing strongly to take the lead at the 200m mark.
The mare fought on bravely to hold off the fast-finishing Arcadia King ($3.50) by a head, with Captain Jack ($16) a length-and-a-quarter away in third place.
Baffling has now recorded two wins and two minor placings from her eight career starts to date, taking her total earnings past $50,000.
The Pearce Racing stable will saddle up Don’t Fuss in this Saturday’s $100,000 Listed Miss Andretti Stakes (1100m) at Ascot, with stablemates Essential Spice and Dickoletto engaged to line up in support races on the nine-event card.
[PHOTO: Western Racepix]