Daniel and Ben Pearce appear to be key players at Belmont today with three fancied runners engaged.
The brothers will saddle-up Amongstgoodcompany, Superior Smile and Time To Hunt and each of the stablemates look to have solid claims in their respective races.
Encosta De Lago four-year-old Amongstgoodcompany will have her second start for the preparation in the Seacorp Maiden (1650m) on the back of an eye-catching first-up run at Northam on September 28.
The mare flew home from the tail of the field to finish third to Crystal Valley over 1300m and the rise to a mile second-up today looks ideal.
She’ll jump from barrier nine in the 13-horse field with Jarrad Noske aboard and the Pearce stable expect her to prove hard to beat.
Consistent Patronize three-year-old Superior Smile has recorded a win in between two runner-up finishes at his past three outings and looks capable of another forward showing in today’s Toll Handicap (1400m).
The gelding drops 1.5kg from his last-start second to Private Dancer at Northam and has the advantage of jumping from barrier one in the field of 10.
Joseph Azzopardi retains the mount.
Henrythenavigator four-year-old Time To Hunt will race second-up in the final event on the seven-race card, the Western Racepix Maiden (1650m).
The gelding burst onto the scene to win his first two starts last preparation and wasn’t disgraced when two-and-a-quarter lengths sixth to Prize Catch in Saturday grade when first-up on September 23.
Team Pearce are confident he’ll improve sharply with that run under his belt as well stepping up from 1400m to 1650m.
Time To Hunt will jump from barrier four in his nine-horse field and Jarrad Noske, who rode the gelding in his two wins last campaign, will jump back aboard for the first time this preparation.
Pearce Racing have Wild Fusion engaged at tomorrow’s Northam meeting and have Father Knick entered for Saturday’s $100,000 Listed 3YO Bunbury Classic.