Testa Rossa three-year-old Racy Ava staked her claim for next month’s Group Three WA Oaks (2400m) with an impressive win at Ascot on Wednesday.
The filly started the $3.30 tote favourite in the Hahn Superdry Handicap (1800m) and was aided to a smart ride by regular hoop, Joseph Azzopardi.
Settled in seventh position in running, three-back on-the-fence, Racy Ava peeled off the rail turning for home before bounding away to win by more than two lengths.
Big Shot Paddy ($16.70) finished in second place with Fair Sonari ($4.10) a further head away in third.
Racy Ava put the writing on the wall with an eye-catching first-up effort at Bunbury on February 28 when rocketing home from the tail of the field to finish just a nose second over 1400m.
She also produced a promising performance at her final start in the spring when beaten two-and-three-quarter lengths in the Group 3 WA Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) at Ascot.
Meanwhile, the Pearce brothers’ lightly-raced four-year-old, Tips And Scandals ($30.50), caught the eye with a fast-finishing fourth placing in the Amelia Park Beef Maiden (1200m) earlier in the day.
Out of the stable’s former prolific city-winning mare, Tip The Angel, the Scandal Keeper filly came from last position in her 16-horse field to clock the fastest final 600m sectional of the day, 34.02 seconds.
The Pearce stable have undefeated two-year-old, Agent Pippa, resuming in Saturday’s Listed Supremacy Stakes (1000m) at Ascot.
The Demerit filly was a smart trial winner at Belmont on March 5 and is headed for next month’s $500,000 Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m).
Former Magic Millions winner, Enchanted Dream, will also have her first race start for more than seven months after an injury-forced lay-off.