Essential Spice Too Hot For Belmont
An astute move by co-trainers Dan and Ben Pearce to back up Essential Spice paid off brilliantly with the four-year-old mare posting a sizzling victory at Belmont on Saturday.
Essential Spice produced an outstanding performance to charge home from last position at the top of the straight in the Go Racing For Free Before The Footy Handicap (1000m).
On the quick turnaround after defeating Shinju a week ago, the Gingerbread Man mare surged to the front passing the 150m and won by an easy 4 ½ lengths.
Pym’s Royale ran an improved second after his last-start failure, finishing a head clear of third placegetter, Denim Pack.
Glasgow Girl ran sixth, but had no luck as the $2.20 favourite. She commenced slowly and was impeded for a run in the straight.
Ben Pearce said he and his brother Dan were confident Essential Spice would handle the quick back-up from last Saturday.
“We wanted to keep her at a 1000m and the next one was three weeks away, so we said we will see how she pulls up and if she is well we will go around,” Pearce said.
“She was jumping out her skin during the week and we were happy to go.”
After 12 starts Essential Spice improved her record to three wins and six placings for stake earnings of $195,600.
Chris Parnham, who picked up the winning ride from William Pike, said Essential Spice displayed an impressive turn of foot.
“Once I let her down it was just instant and she just raced away,” Parnham said.
“It was a good win.”
Julio Santarelli