[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Rommel four-year-old Rainline was rewarded for her consistency with an overdue win in the TABtouch Westspeed Platinum Handicap (1400m) at Ascot on Saturday.
The mare had run minor placings at her three starts back from a spell leading into the race and was able to break a winning drought courtesy of a brilliant William Pike ride.
Starting the $3.80 second favourite, she jumped from barrier seven and settled at the rear of the eight-horse field tracking race-favourite Gold Maker’s ($3.60) every move.
Gold Maker shot to the front passing the 150m mark and momentarily looked the winner before Pike timed his run to perfection to get the upper hand in the shadows of the post and score by a head.
Pearce Racing stablemate Climb On Top ($9.50) finished a further one-and-a-half lengths away in third place.
Rainline won a Saturday two-year-old race at Belmont in May 2024 and has now had 13 career starts for two wins, six minor placings and $162,540 in stake earnings and bonuses to date.
The Pearce stable has prepared 20 winners in the first 11 weeks of the 2025/26 season and will saddle up boom filly Talkanco in next Saturday’s $125,000 Listed Belgravia Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.