Awesome Rock gelding Outspoken Lad scored his second country cup win of the season when taking out the $100,000 Freight Lines Group Esperance Cup (2010m) on Sunday.
A winner of the Carnarvon Cup (2000m) in September, the seven-year-old started the $5 second favourite and had a horror draw in barrier 14 of 14 to overcome but he was the beneficiary of an exceptional Tash Faithfull ride when managing to slot into the one-out and two-back position.
Faithfull peeled the big bay out into the clear to commence his run at the 600m mark before levelling up with The Jester’s Son ($21) at the 300m mark and the pair engaged in an enthralling head-to-head battle over the final furlong.
Outspoken Lad had a tendency to lay in over the late stages but Faithfull switched the whip through to her left hand and was able to extricate the best out of him before hitting the line deadlocked with their rival.
After a lengthy photo finish deliberation, the judge awarded Outspoken Lad the victory by a nose margin.
Race-favourite Arcadia Knight ($2.60) finished one-and-a-half lengths away in third place.
Following the race, connections of The Jester’s Son lodged a protest for alleged interference from Outspoken Lad at the 100m mark which was soon dismissed by stewards and the original placings remained unchanged.
Purchased by Pearce Racing for $60,000 at the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Outspoken Lad has now had 39 career starts for seven wins, 11 minor placings and $384,259 in stake and Westspeed Platinum bonus earnings.
The durable gelding is scheduled to continue his country cup pursuits in the $70,000 Narrogin Cup (1900m) on March 28 and $125,000 Albany Cup (2100m) on April 5.