3 minute read
Dan and Ben Pearce will look to maintain a family link in Sunday’s Listed Tabtouch Pinjarra Cup (2300m).
The co-training combination hope to emulate the deeds of their father, Colin Pearce, who enjoyed Pinjarra Cup success with Professional Lady (2006).
The Tip The Pro mare, ridden by Jason Whiting, cruised to a 2 ½ length victory over Danny Blue and two weeks later took out the Bunbury Cup (2200m).
Determined to forge their own Pinjarra Cup history, Dan and Ben Pearce have Queen Alina as their representative, a mare in excellent form.
Queen Alina came close to claiming the Bunbury Cup (2000m) two weeks ago when she ran on powerfully for fourth behind Blazing Away.
In a bunching finish and against a track pattern that heavily favoured on pace runners, Queen Alina was beaten just under a length.
Queen Alina has drawn barrier one and will have the services of Chris Parnham, a winner of the Pinjarra Cup (2019) with He's A Parker.
Dan Pearce says Queen Alina will appreciate running an extra 300m in the Pinjarra Cup.
"She's been really good and has had a good preparation," Pearce said on Tabradio.
"I thought that last run was really good against the pattern of the day.
"She was still able to make solid ground down the outside and the extra distance should help as well.
"We thought it was an encouraging run moving forward.
"I think she's building towards a win and a deserving one."
The Pinjarra Cup can cap an excellent seven days for the Pearce camp.
Last week Lord Vampi stormed into WA Derby favouritism after a brilliant effort to win the J.C.Roberts Stakes (1800m).
At Ascot on Sinful Living, Acromantula, Oly's Choice and Influencing hold solid winning claims in their respective races.
Acromantula is $7 in the Rock Magic Stakes (1000m), a race he won 12-months ago when leading from barrier to post defeating Red Can Man.
The six-year-old is second up after running fifth to Gemma's Son in the inaugural Bluff Knoll Stakes (1099m) in Albany two weeks ago.
"He pulled up really good and the 1099m may have been 99m further than he wanted," Pearce said.
"Back to the 1000m will suit and we're really happy with the way he's going.
"I think the run will have tightened him up, he won second-up in Melbourne in the Carlyon.
"I think he'll be hard to beat and hard to run down."
