Speedbird and Life For A Life landed a winning double for Pearce Racing at Sunday’s TABtouch Geraldton Gold Cup meeting.
Speedbird, a new acquisition to the stable, scored her first win for the Pearce brothers when romping away by almost five lengths in the Geraldton Hotel, See You After The Last Handicap (1600m).
Ridden by Jade McNaught, the My Admiration filly relished the step up to a mile for the first time to defy a late betting drift of $3.90 to $5.50 prior to the jump.
The three-year-old enjoyed a lovely run behind the leaders in running before peeling out turning for home and letting down with a devastating turn-of-foot to defeat Galaxy Blaze ($41) by four-and-three-quarter lengths, with Pagani ($11) a further one-and-a-half lengths away in third place.
Speedbird has now recorded two wins and a third from her seven race starts to date, with stake earnings and bonuses totalling $58,350.
Earlier on in the day, stablemate Life For A Life also scored a convincing win when taking out the Drennan O’Malley Motors Handicap (1200m) second-up from a spell.
Starting on the second line of betting at $3.60, the All American three-year-old settled in the box seat for young apprentice jockey Holly Watson before Watson showed experience beyond her years to muscle her way out into the clear on straightening and hit the lead at the 125-metre mark.
The gelding sprinted away to land a one-and-a-half length win over Sly As A Fox ($5), with Fairer America ($91) a nose away in third.
Bred and raced by Geoff Evans of Distinct Racing, Life For A Life has now had six career starts for two wins and a second placing.
Meanwhile, fellow Pearce-trained galloper Roch Legacy recorded a fast-finishing third at his race debut in the opening event on the eight-race Geraldton card.
Stablemates Worth A Risk, Black Lightning and Wise Words are engaged to race at Wednesday’s Ascot meeting.
[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
CLICK HERE to watch the replay of Speedbird’s Geraldton win.
CLICK HERE to watch the replay of Life For A Life’s Geraldton win.