[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Deep Field three-year-old Manavendra scored his first win at only his second race start when getting the verdict in a driving finish to the Integrity Maiden (1100m) at Northam on Thursday.
A late drifter to $11 at the jump, the gelding settled one-out and two-back for apprentice Luke Campbell before finishing strongly in the straight to hit the line dead-locked with two other runners.
Manavendra eventually got the judge’s decision by the barest of margins over Grey Mistress ($9), with Banks Avenue ($26) a further nose away in third place.
The first foal out of former Kalgoorlie Cup winner and $500,000-earner Shinta Mani, Manavendra has always been held in high regard by co-trainers Daniel and Ben Pearce and the stable predicts bigger for him over more ground in the future.
His win continues a top run with newly-turned three-year-olds for Pearce Racing in the new season, with eight individual three-year-olds collecting 12 of their state-leading 24-win tally.
The stable have Galaxy Affair and Probity engaged to race at Saturday’s Ascot meeting.
CLICK HERE to watch the replay of Manavendra’s Northam win.