[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Oratorio gelding Defending added another win to his improving record when landing his third victory from his past four starts at Belmont on Saturday.
Starting the $2.90 second favourite in the TABtouch – Westspeed Platinum Handicap (1200m), the four-year-old jumped from barrier two in a six-horse field for jockey Chris Parnham before settling one-out and two-back in running.
The race appeared just about out of his reach when race-favourite Ain’t No Other Man ($1.90) hit the front at the 350m mark and kicked clear, however, Defending was able to produce a brilliant finish to reel him in and score by a nose.
Requisition ($20) finished a further one-and-a-half lengths away in third place.
The win was Defending’s first at Saturday level and takes his career record to 13 starts for four wins, two seconds, 12 top-five finishes and $139,680 in prizemoney and bonuses.
Co-trainers Dan and Ben Pearce have prepared a state-high 19 winners in the first eight weeks of the 2022/23 season, seven clear of the next highest.
The stable will be represented by Charcoal Chaos, Manhattan Strip and Anna’s Boy at Northam today before stablemates and last-start winners Cosmopolitan Girl and Exceltrain line up at tomorrow’s transferred Toodyay to Belmont meeting.
CLICK HERE to watch the replay of Defending’s Belmont win.