[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Short-course specialist Acromantula was rewarded with his first feature race victory at Ascot on Saturday when producing a scintillating performance in the $100,000 Rock Magic Stakes (1000m).
Ridden by Chris Parnham, the Written Tycoon five-year-old started on the third line of betting at $5 and jumped straight to the lead to set a fast pace throughout.
Parnham and the gelding had the field chasing turning for home and the pair skipped clear before holding off race-favourite Red Can Man ($2.20) by more than a length on the line.
Baby Paris ($3.20) finished a further length-and-three-quarters away in third place.
Acromantula has now had 22 career starts for seven wins, eight minor placings and $412,352 in stake earnings and bonuses, with each of his seven victories coming from his 17 starts at the Ascot 1000m circuit.
Meanwhile, stablemate Platinum Shot obtained valuable black type when placing in the $125,000 Listed Supremacy Stakes (1000m) earlier on the Ascot program.
The Shooting To Win filly jumped a $31 chance in the two-year-old feature event and hit the line powerfully to run second to race-favourite Live To Tell ($1.65).
Co-trainers Daniel and Ben Pearce have prepared 46 winners so far in the 2022/23 season.