[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Pearce Racing and Chris Parnham combined for a winning double at Bunbury on Thursday after Famous Dain and Soso Lucky both scored impressively first-up from a spell.
Shamus Award three-year-old Famous Dain kicked off proceedings when getting backed from $5 into $3.60 prior to the running of the Cash4Cans Maiden (1203m) and settling one-out and two-back.
The gelding travelled boldly throughout which forced Parnham to peel three-wide 550m from home before levelling up to the leaders on straightening and kicking clear over the final furlong to defeat race-favourite Trio ($3) by one-and-a-quarter lengths.
All Vital ($2.90) finished a further length-and-three-quarters away in third place.
Bred by Oakland Park, Famous Dain flashed natural ability in his first race preparation and putting the writing on the wall for his winning return with an encouraging trial performance at Lark Hill on July 15.
The following race saw Lean Mean Machine filly Soso Lucky also land good bets ($4.40 into $3.60) when taking out the Cuprum Distillery Maiden (1203m) at her race debut.
Also a three-year-old, she followed up a sharp trial win 10 days prior with an exciting performance when unleashing a devastating turn of foot from the back half of the 11-horse field to round up her rivals with ease.
Parnham pulled the filly to the middle of the track on straightening and despite spotting the leading brigade a considerable margin, she hit the front passing the 100m mark en route to a stylish two-and-a-quarter length victory.
Hell’s Citi ($5.50) finished second, with Marybee ($5) a further head away in third place.
Pearce Racing’s only other runner on the day, Kermelia, ran a fast-finishing third earlier on the program.
The stable has prepared 81 winners with less than one week remaining in the 2023/24 season and will saddle up Bird’s The Word, Starring Knight and Longalicious at Saturday’s Belmont meeting.