Striking Fella resumed from a long spell to score a soft win for Peace Racing in the Seashells Mandurah Maiden (1413m) on Sunday.
The son of Gold Front stallion Awesome Rock was the pick from a quartet of promising 3yo maiden winners at Pinjarra that also included his stablemate Richanco (Rich Enuff) and the Universal Ruler fillies Olivia’smemumma and Don’t Tell Nan.
Striking Fella had been sidelined for six months but took up the running for Chris Parnham and was never headed in the victory over Stryker’s Gal (Patronize) and Runaway Winston (Churchill). “He had raced up to 2200m during his last prep and displayed sharpness to cross to the lead from barrier six and boot clear on straightening,” Pearce Racing reported. “He’s an athletic type yet still raw and has required a patient approach due to his immaturity.
“He’s always shown us promise and we expect him to continue to improve as he steps up in distance.”
His dam Kezzabelle won a Newcastle maiden for Gai Waterhouse and had foaled WA winners Deacalda (Sizzling), Amarillo Rose (Slater) and Kleva Kezza (Smart Missile) for Gold Front owners Alan and Sue Olive.
Ben Pearce went back and bought Kezzabelle not long after Striking Fella joined Pearce Racing’s Karnup stables following a $55,000 sale at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions. Her yearling colt by Awesome Rock was purchased by agent Merrick Staunton for $60,000 at the Perth Magic Millions in February and she foaled another Awesome Rock colt last October.
Second-dam Perfect Luck (Danehill) is a half-sister to the Flemington Group 1-winning sprinters Gold Ace (Dieu d’Or) and Final Card (Elounda Bay).