Cliffs Of Comfort stamped his claim as a potential stakes-class galloper when recording his third win from as many starts at Ascot on Saturday.
The undefeated Canford Cliffs three-year-old, who started the $2.40 favourite in the Schweppes Handicap (1100m), led from start to finish at a breakneck tempo for apprentice jockey Chris Graham after receiving immense pressure from Express Time ($10) on his outside.
Despite the unrelenting heat from his rival, Cliffs Of Comfort was able to absorb the pressure and kick strongly in the straight to hold off the fast-finishing River Beau ($11) by three-quarters of a length in what was the third-fastest 1100m Ascot event over the past 12 months.
Second-favourite Tommy Blue ($2.60) finished a further half-length away in third place.
Cliffs Of Comfort has now accumulated total earnings of $143,950 in his three starts to date and, after a luckless start to his promising career when requiring a throat operation before fracturing his pelvis as a two-year-old, he appears destined for bigger and better things in the future.
Stablemate Double Jeopardy ($6) also performed well for the Pearce stable when finishing second to tearaway leader Kramden ($15) after covering additional ground in the Amelia Park Beef Handicap (1000m) later in the Ascot program.
Meanwhile, fellow Pearce-trained galloper Superior Smile will contest his sixth-consecutive country cup today when he steps out in the $120,000 TABtouch Listed Pinjarra Cup (2200m).
The consistent Patronize gelding has recorded minor placings in the Narrogin Cup, Albany Cup, Esperance Cup, Bunbury Cup and South West Autumn Cup at his past five outings.
Stablemates Roman Flirt and Lyle’s Choice are also set to line up in support races on the 10-event card.
[PHOTO: Western Racepix]