Influencing was back to his best second-up from a spell at Kalgoorlie on Sunday when taking out the $30,000 Terra Drilling Kambalda Cup (1400m).
Ridden by apprentice Natika Riordan, the Oratorio five-year-old jumped a $7.50 from barrier two and enjoyed the run of the race in the box seat before working into the clear on straightening.
The gelding was able to collar race-leader It’s A Lance ($31) in the final stride to win by a head, with Feuding ($7) a further length-and-three-quarters away in third place.
Influencing is now undefeated from two starts at Kalgoorlie after winning over the same distance on Kalgoorlie Cup day last year and is now likely to be aimed at the $150,000 Listed Hannans Handicap (1400m) on October 2.
Purchased by Pearce Racing for $60,000 at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions yearling sale, the gelding has been a wonderful money spinner for his all-ladies syndicate, with his 18 career starts to date returning six wins, a second and $288,031 in stake earnings and Westspeed Platinum bonuses.
The Pearce stable will saddle up Influencing’s older full brother, Defending, at Belmont Park on Wednesday.