Co-trainers Ben and Daniel Pearce saddled-up two winners and a second placing from their four runners at the annual ANZAC day meeting at Ascot on Thursday.
Stablemates Superior Smile and Don’t Fuss, who had both ran a string of placings in their races leading up to the day, scored well-deserved wins when taking out the Crown Towers Handicap (1800m) and RSLWA Trophy (1200m) respectively.
Patronize four-year-old Superior Smile ($2.20), ridden by William Pike, sat outside of the leader in a moderately-ran affair before hitting the front at the 200m mark and kicking strongly to hold off Universal Mae ($4.90) by a long-neck.
Royal Strata ($3.50) finished a further three-quarter-length away in third place.
The win followed three consecutive minor placings for Superior Smile and improves his record to 27 starts for five wins, nine placings and $121,565 in earnings including Westspeed bonuses.
Don’t Fuss ($3.20) was having his fifth start back from a spell and followed four runner-up finishes in a row with an impressive win with jockey Daniel Staeck in the saddle.
The Scandal Keeper five-year-old defeated Route Eighty Eight ($6.70) by more than a length and has now returned four wins and seven placings from his 17 starts to date, accumulating stake earnings of $122,295.
Meanwhile, Patronize two-year-old Joyrize ($5.30) continued her consistent form when finishing a half-length second to the progressive High Range ($3.20) in the TABtouch – Better Your Bet Plate (1100m) earlier in the program.
The filly has finished runner-up at each of her three runs in her debut race preparation and is knocking on the door for the first win of her promising career.
The Pearce brothers have last-start winner Storm Dancer engaged at Ascot on Saturday before heading to Sunday’s Pinjarra meeting, where Black Comet will be the stable’s sole representation.
[PHOTO: Western Racepix]