After a frustrating start to February, Dan and Ben Pearce had their team humming by the end of the month with a clutch of winners.
After nine previous placings, the co-trainers struck back to reignite stable confidence ahead of feature races in upcoming weeks.
With an eye to those races, two of their three-year-old performers captured attention. Outspoken Lad winning over a mile and Black Fantasy second to Rokanori at Ascot last Wednesday.
A Awesome Rock gelding, Outspoken Lad gave the Pearce team the second leg of a treble following wins to Fear The Wind and Roch Legacy on the card.
The stables winning form translated to Mt Barker on Sunday with Risky Lyrics and Chiclett in the Tabtouch Mount Barker Cup (2000m) notching wins.
Chiclett, with a top three finish in six of her past seven races, scored her first success beyond 1850m after kicking away to score by 2 ¼ lengths.
“She was good and a good ride by Clint (Johnston-Porter), Dan Pearce told Tabradio.
“We were pretty confident in running and she was never getting beaten from where she got to in the race.
“We’re looking at possibly the Narrogin Cup early April, picking our way through fringe races.
“She’s certainly a mare in good form at the moment and loving her racing.
“Once she gets out to a staying trip, if she will run the trip, it might open up the possibility of getting some black type.”
Meanwhile Pearce says Outspoken Lad and Black Fantasy are on track for a crack at the WA Derby (2400m) on April 9.
Saturday week’s J.C.Roberts (1800m) and an encounter with boom gelding Trix Of The Trade looms next.
“That’s the plan and there is a class 3 1800m as well, so we could divert one of them there.
“But the plan is the Roberts, Melvista (2200m) and the Derby, they are both tracking great.
“Black Fantasy, although he got beat the other day, got back off a slow speed and was hitting the line real well.
“We’re really happy with where he’s at and Outspoken Lad was fantastic.
“He’s a horse who has always shown us a heap.
“Getting him out to the mile and running through the line like he did is very exciting for where he’s going.”
The Pearce brothers will also have representation in the first feature for the babies on Saturday.
Fiorucci Mama, a winner on debut and second to Saintorio at her only other start, will go around in the Listed Supremacy Stakes (1000m).
“She galloped very well on Friday and is tracking along really well,” Pearce said.
“Superior Smile will go to the Esperance Cup (2000m) on Sunday.
“He’s going good as well and was good last start.”
Superior Smile ran third to Push To Pass in the 2020 Esperance Cup.