Watch the replay of Essential Spice’s Belmont win here!
Speedy two-year-old Essential Spice continued her promising form with a gritty win at Belmont on Saturday.
The Gingerbread Man filly put the writing on the wall with gallant runner-up finishes to the talented Market Ruler at her two starts prior and made the most of a favourable barrier draw.
After jumping from barrier two rider Peter Knuckey fired Essential Spice ($2.00) to the lead, with quality colt Fire And Rain ($3.60) settled outside of her.
The pair went head-and-head in a thrilling dog fight in the straight before Essential Spice prevailed by a half-head at the finish.
Knuckey picked up the plum ride after her regular jockey, Alan Kennedy, was out of action due to a 10-day careless riding suspension.
The win takes Essential Spice’s career earnings to $111,800, including Westspeed bonuses, in her first three starts.
It was the second leg of a two-year-old double for the Pearce stable this week after Angelic Ruler also notched her first victory at Belmont on Wednesday.
The Pearce brothers have so far trained 59 winners for the 2017/18 season.
[PHOTO: Essential Spice’s winning connections. (Western Racepix)]