Last week’s Belmont winners Climb On Top and Toronado Rocket kept Pearce Racing at the top of the 2025-26 WA Trainers’ table with 16 wins as racing segues into the Ascot spring and summer carnivals.
One of the highlights of their winning tally to date was Moonshine Queen’s victory in the Become A Member Maiden (1400m) at Bunbury on September 11. Facing the starter for just the second time, the Geisel Park-bred graduate jumped in front and then box-seated before clicking into another gear for Clint Johnston-Porter at the top of the straight.
Moonshine Queen (3f Puissance De Lune – Bourbon Dynasty by Trade Fair) was a class above that field but any Ascot plans were put on hold when stewards reported she pulled up with an elevated heart rate following a subsequent six-day turnaround at Belmont.
Moonshine Queen and her strapper Misty Jones all smiles at Bunbury / Photo: Western Racepix
Pearce Racing sent the grey filly straight out for a spell ahead of an autumn campaign aimed at the G3 WA Oaks (2400m) at Ascot on April 5. “She’s a staying type who we feel has a fair bit of upside so we’re looking forward to getting her over more ground in the future,” Pearce Racing reported.
“She’s a scopey filly and we feel she has the right attributes to develop into a lovely 3yo middle distance – WA Oaks type!”
Moonshine Queen owns a classic pedigree as a three-quarter sister to the Lindsey Smith-trained Chantrea (Puissance de Lune) who was a Listed winner of the 2020 Belmont Oaks (2000m) and Belmont Classic (2200m).
Geisel Park owner Eddie Rigg copied that cross using Shamardal’s Group 1 son Puissance de Lune (Ire) over his Ross Price-prepared Ascot winner Bourbon Dynasty. Her latest foal is a 2yo Awesome Rock colt that was purchased from the Geisel Park consignment to this year’s Perth Magic Millions by agent John Chalmers.
Other black-type close relations in the pedigree include G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) winner De Lago Mist (Encosta De Lago) and her G2 SAJC Queen of the South Stakes (1600m) winning daughters Shrouded In Mist (Exceed and Excel) and Into The Mist (Redoute’s Choice).
This year’s Geisel Park stallion roster is headed by Aysar ($8,800) alongside Winning Rupert ($6,600) and Manhattan Rain ($5,500). Service fees (inc GST). Stud manager Conor Dunlop can be contacted for bookings or further details on 0447 434 735.
