[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Karsavina and Kiralui both made winning returns to racing when bringing up a double for Pearce Racing at Bunbury on Thursday.
Mahuta three-year-old Karsavina ($11), the full sister to the Pearces’ former stakes winner Queen Alina, relished the addition of blinkers when racing first up in the Attvest Maiden (1400m).
The filly had trialed up only fairly leading into her return but appreciated stepping up to seven furlongs on raceday and she was the recipient of a lovely ride by jockey Tash Faithfull when settled one-out and one-back in running.
She was pulled into the clear on straightening and finished off powerfully to collar tearaway leader Swindle The Dough ($5.50) in the final strides to win by just over a half length, with Hey Pino ($4.20) a further head away in third place.
The Lynward Park-bred Karsavina has now recorded a win and a second placing from her five career starts and is a WA Oaks aspirant in the autumn.
Stablemate Kiralui ($6.50) rounded the day out on an even better note for the stable when also producing a first-up victory in the NTI Handicap (1200m) in the final event on the program.
The Safeguard five-year-old was a first-up winner at her last preparation and followed up a solid recent trial with a fast-finishing effort after enjoying a gun run in the box seat with Shaun O’Donnell aboard.
O’Donnell peeled the mare off the leader’s heels inside 200m mark and she sprinted quickly to hit the front 50m from home and then pull away to score by a three-quarter length.
Divine Inanna ($5.50) hung on for second place, with race-favourite Lombadina ($2.90) a further head away in third.
Kiralui has now raced 15 times for four wins, three minor placings and $96,338 in total earnings.
The Pearce stable will saddle up Rainline, Platinum Shot and Defending at Albany on Friday before Saturday’s Ascot meeting where Blue Rocket, Perfect Chant and Manavendra are engaged.