[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Pearce Racing celebrated a brilliant ANZAC day at Ascot on Saturday when preparing a winning treble which included the featured Diggers Cup.
Exciting two-year-old Cos I Am kicked the day off in style when keeping her undefeated record in tact after producing another slashing performance from back in the field to take out the Peters Investments Plate (1100m).
Starting the $2.35 favourite with Chris Parnham aboard, the I Am Invincible filly drew barrier 10 and settled towards the rear of the 11-horse field but was able to blend into three-wide moving line and be extricated into the clear on straightening.
She unleashed a brilliant turn of foot to storm past her rivals and hold off Mark The Sky ($2.80) to win by a head, with Crocs ($101) a further one-and-a-quarter lengths away in third place.
The impeccably-bred Cos I Am is Pearce Racing’s most expensive acquisition after being purchased for $500,000 in conjunction with Yarradale Stud at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and appears set to justify her hefty price tag having now won her first two career starts in impression fashion.
The following race saw Noble Connection ($5.50) land a running double for the stable when leading all-the-way in the Ule Hoof Oil Handicap (1600m).
Ridden by William Pike, the Rommel four-year-old took advantage of the lack of speed in the race by rolling to the top and dictating terms before a nailbiting finish where he hit the line deadlocked with Soldanelle ($5.50).
After a short deliberation, the judge awarded the photo finish the way of Noble Connection while Dug Another Hole ($4) finished a further head away in third place.
Purchased by Pearce Racing for $170,000 at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Noble Connection has now had 17 career starts for six wins, three seconds and $246,846 in total earnings.
A good day became great later in the program when stable veteran Outspoken Lad ($12) continued his career-best form to take out the $100,000 Diggers Cup (1800m) and provide Pearce Racing with its 50th win for the 2025/26 season.
Fresh off a last-start win in the Narrogin Cup, the Awesome Rock seven-year-old proved too tough for his rivals when positioned up outside of the leader by jockey Brad Parnham and fighting on strongly at the finish to win by just under a half-length.
River Rubicon ($26) ran second, with Fancy Red ($5) a further neck away in third.
Purchased by Pearce Racing for $60,000 at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Outspoken Lad has taken his ownership group on a wonderful ride and has now claimed the Carnarvon Cup, Esperance Cup, Narrogin Cup and Diggers Cup this season.
The gelding has had 43 career starts to date for nine wins, 11 minor placings and a lucrative $481,109 in total earnings.
Meanwhile, stablemates Toronado Rocket, Sky Poet and So I Thought are engaged to race at Monday’s Pinjarra Scarpside meeting.