Pearce Racing bought two yearlings by Lynward Park sire Bondi (Snitzel) at the Perth Magic Millions earlier this week and wasted no time recouping a slice of that spend with the help of their Lynward Park graduate Fear The Wind at Ascot’s twilight meeting on Wednesday.
Bondi yearlings sold to $110,000 in the Swan Valley and brothers Ben and Dan Pearce took a shine to his first crop catalogued by Lynward Park’s Troy van Heemst paying $50,000 for the colt out of Fontainebleau (Lot 132) and $65,000 for the colt from Black Misty (Lot 269).
“We’re rapt,” Pearce Racing reported on their website after Day 1. “What a steal to have secured this Westspeed Platinum colt by Bondi for only $50,000. He’s the first foal out of multiple Listed winner Fontainebleau.”
They were just as impressed with the Bullsbrook nursery’s Day 2 Bondi buy from Black Misty. “It’s been an incredibly strong sale and this flashy Westspeed Platinum colt is out of a half-sister to Rothesay. He also hails from the same family as WA Stakes-winner Liwa.”
Lightly-raced gelding Fear The Wind was always travelling like a winner for Brad Rawiller in the TABtouch Maiden (1600m) on Wednesday. Starting a $2.35 favourite second-up after a ten-month spell, he landed in the breeze and then ran away for a soft, three-length victory.
Fear The Wind is a son of Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente (Ire) and had paid his dues this time last year competing in the LR Roberts Quality, LR Melvista Stakes and G2 WA Derby won in a clean-sweep by Western Empire.
“He’s always showed us a bit and that’s why we gave him a chance in those good races,” Dan Pearce said. “He’s taken a while to mature but is starting to put it together now. He’s bred to run a trip and really knuckled down today.”
Fear The Wind races for a syndicate managed by Jason Ferguson after being sold by Lynward Park for $50,000 at the 2019 Perth Magic Millions.
He’s the final foal of Windana (Danehill) who was a marvellous producer for Lynward Park after being sourced for $72,500 at the 2005 Magic Millions National Sale. She foaled five winners including the Stakes-placed fillies Simplyirresistible (Royal Academy) and Angel Girl (Rory’s Jester). The latter is the dam of G1 NZ Levin Classic winner Southern Lord (Stratum).
Lynward Park homebred Baronova returns from a break in the Crown Towers Hcp (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday. The Fiorente mare was last seen winning the LR Belmont Classic (2200m) in July and there has been speculation she will head east with trainer Grant Williams.
