[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Shooting To Win gelding Starring Knight bounced back to his best form at Ascot on Sunday when producing an impressive display in the Belle’s Park Training & Agistment Handicap (1200m).
Ridden by Chris Parnham, the lightly-raced four-year-old was having his third run back from a spell when backed from $6 into $4.60 and settling one-out and one-back to track the favourite – Diamond Rocks ($2.60) – throughout running.
Parnham peeled the flashy bay three-wide turning for home and he let down with a powerful finish, racing past his rivals en route to defeating La Dette ($4.80) by a length-and-three-quarters.
Bake Some Maybe’s ($21) finished a further neck away in third place.
Starring Knight has now had 10 career starts for two wins and three minor placings after overcoming setbacks earlier in his career.
Pearce Racing has prepared 45 winners so far in the 2022/23 season, with the stable set to saddle-up Pacific Lady and Celebrity Witness at Belmont on Wednesday.