[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Demerit gelding Probity was back to his best third-up from a spell at Belmont on Saturday when taking out the TABtouch – Have You Got The Touch Handicap (1300m) in wet conditions.
Ridden by replacement rider William Pike after Clint Johnston-Porter fell ill, the four-year-old relished the heavy8 surface to land his second victory on a heavy-rated track.
He was supported from $6 into $4.20 prior to the jump and was settled four-back on the fence by Pike before rocketing home along the rail without going around a horse as the field fanned turning for home.
Probity was able to swoop past race-leader Pat’s Got Sass ($21) to win by just under one-and-a-half lengths, with a further half-length away to Trade War ($17) in third place.
The Oakland Park-bred gelding has now raced 21 times for four wins, six minor placings and $276,080 in stake earnings and Westspeed Platinum bonuses.
The win was Pearce Racing’s 26th in the metropolitan area for the 2022/23 season so far and takes the stable’s overall season tally to 76.