Pearce Brothers Praise The Lord In Melvista Stakes
Ben Pearce is confident his gun three-year-old Lord Vampi can secure the second leg of a feature race double and continue his march towards next month’s WA Derby (2400m) at Ascot on Good Friday.
The progressive gelding can also etch the name of Pearce and his brother, co-trainer Dan, on the Melvista Stakes (2200m) honour board for a second time after Money Maher earned bragging rights in the 2018 Listed race.
Lord Vampi comes off an exciting maiden black-type win over Melvista Stakes rival Alaskan in the Listed J.C.Roberts Stakes (1800m) last start and Pearce believes if he repeats his devastating finish he’ll be hard to hold out again.
Aided by a superb Lucy Fiore ride in the J.C.Roberts Stakes, Lord Vampi, an Oakland Park homebred for Neville Duncan, underlined his class with a sizzling turn of foot that is fast becoming his trade mark and weapon in races.
Pearce is confident Lord Vampi can successfully negotiate stretching out an extra 400m in the Melvista Stakes.
“He’s come through the Roberts run really good and we’re really happy with him,” Pearce said to The Races WA.
“Neville’s (Duncan) told us from the start that he’s confident he’s a Derby horse and we won’t see the best of him until beyond 2000m.
“It was obviously pretty pleasing to see what he did in the Roberts; we didn’t expect that at the 1800m.
“We always thought he was a nice horse but that really surprised us how good his turn of foot was.
“If he can still have that same turn of foot over the staying trip he’s going to be pretty hard to beat.”
If not for a slice of bad luck Lord Vampi could be unbeaten this campaign.
First up at Belmont in February he was held up until the final 150m and stormed home to finish second.
From six starts he’s won three races, placed second twice and collected more than $230,000 in earnings and bonuses.
Lord Vampi is by Playing God out of the Bletchley Park mare Vampi Lass, a family link that Pearce knows only too well.
“It’s a family we’ve had a fair bit to do with,” Pearce said.
“Vampi Lass was my first ever Group 3 winner.
“It’s good to see him come through and do what he’s doing.”
Lord Vampi has drawn barrier nine in the Melvista Stakes, Fiore retains the mount.
He’s currently $4.80 with Tabtouch, easing from his opening price of $3.80.
Alaskan, in from $5.50 to $4.40, the new favourite.
Julio Santarelli