[PHOTO: Western Racepix]
Triple Jay continued his blistering winter form with a fourth consecutive win at Belmont Park on Wednesday when taking out the featured $100,000 Blue Spec Stakes (1650m).
The Street Boss five-year-old started the $2.80 favourite and handled his first test beyond 1400m with aplomb when showing tactical versatility to win from back in the field.
The gelding had settled on-speed in his lead up victories but a stronger earlier tempo than expected in the Blue Spec Stakes saw him end up one-out and three-back in running with Brad Parnham aboard.
Parnham never panicked and extended his unbeaten record aboard the progressive galloper when peeling him to the outside of runners on straightening and claiming Admiration Express ($5) in the final stride to win by a head.
Upper Limits ($12) finished a further length-and-a-quarter away in third place.
The Oakland Park-bred Triple Jay has now had 17 career starts for eight wins, five minor placings and $365,432 in total earnings.
Connections now have a decision to make about whether to freshen the gelding for a spring carnival assault potentially targeting the $1.5 million Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) in November or to spell him and aim at feature races in the autumn.
The Pearce stable will saddle up Influencing and Manhattan Jewel at Pinjarra on Thursday before Saturday’s Idyllic Prince Stakes meeting at Belmont where a big team featuring Ginger Baker, Super Romani, Ultimate Style, King’s Artillery, Manavendra, Under Influence, Exceltrain, Soso Lucky and Westriver Miracle are engaged.
Stablemate Acromantula is also set to fly the flag for the yard and WA racing as a whole when he contests the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday – the same race he was victorious in last year.