[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Shooting To Win mare Platinum Shot made an encouraging return to racing off a lengthy absence when taking out the Wellington and Reeves Bluff Knoll 16th March Handicap (1100m) at Albany on Friday.
Having her first race start for more than nine months, the four-year-old jumped a $3.70 chance with apprentice jockey Zephen Johnston-Porter aboard and enjoyed a gun run one-out and one-back in transit.
She hit the front 150m from home and had a tendency to lay in abruptly over the final stages but pulled away late to win by a three-quarter length on the line which helped her survive an unsuccessful protest from the second-placed Yardstick ($51) after the race.
Fellow Pearce-trained galloper Rainline ($3.40) finished a further head away in third place.
The Yarradale Stud-bred Platinum Shot has now had 18 career starts for three wins, eight placings and $133,458 in total earnings and looks set for a fruitful campaign to further enhance her broodmare value after obtaining black type when finishing second in the Listed Supremacy Stakes as a two-year-old.
The Pearce yard saddled up three runners at Albany for a first, second and third, with Defending finishing runner-up in the final event of the day.
The stable will be represented by Blue Rocket, Perfect Chant and Manavendra at Ascot on Saturday before Monday’s public holiday meeting at Narrogin where stablemates Desert Edge, Pacific Lady and Scenic Boom are engaged.