Talkanco, Yes Queen rematch
PERTH Yes Queen and Talkanco will renew hostilities for a third occasion when they clash in the A$500,000 (S$419,000) Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1,200m) for two-year-olds at Ascot on April 26.
In the space of a couple of months, the classy juveniles have built up a fierce rivalry and small margins have split the pair in their three encounters.
Besides exiting the starting gates side by side, Yes Queen and Talkanco are separated by small margins in Karrakatta Plate betting.
Yes Queen struck the first blow for Dion Luciani's yard last November, defeating Talkanco by 1.4 lengths when making her debut in the Crystal Slipper Stakes (1,100m).
Prepared by brothers Dan and Ben Pearce, Talkanco squared the ledger at their most recent clash when holding out Yes Queen by a half-head in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes (1,100m) on April 12.
In their middle meeting in March, Yes Queen and Talkanco finished second and third respectively behind Luana Miss in the Listed Supremacy Stakes (1,100m).
The Pearce brothers are thrilled to be in genuine contention for a second Karrakatta Plate victory, after Dig Deep was too good for his rivals in 2019.
Talkanco has been a worthy Karrakatta Plate contender this season, earning a cheque every time he has gone around, with two wins and two placings from four outings.
Dan Pearce said the I'm All The Talk filly had come through the Gimcrack Stakes in great fettle. She ran through the line strongly to hold out Yes Queen, who was coming hard late.
"She came through the run really well," he said. "I am wondering if Yes Queen came that hard, it might have caught her a bit by surprise.
"I think our filly went with her late, through the line and past the line. It'll be interesting to see if they come with their runs together.
"I couldn't be happier with our girl and she's where she needs to be fitness-wise. I wouldn't be swopping her and hopefully, she can peak on grand final day."
Talkanco will be joined in the Karrakatta Plate by stablemate, Perfectly Proper, giving the Pearce stable a potent double chance.
Perfectly Proper's hopes were dulled after drawing off the track, but Dan Pearce said the Pierata filly was desperately unlucky not to crack her maiden status last start in the Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (1,200m) in February.
She came with a flourish to run a narrow second to Do I Feel Lucky but could easily have reversed the result if she had a clear run passing the 200m.
Despite starting from the widest gate, Dan Pearce expects her to be a competitive force.
"She was a bit unlucky, the gap just tightened as she was about to come through," he said.
"She had a little setback, so comes here first-up, but went fresh into the Magic Millions and obviously went enormous there.
"Barrier really hurts, but if she can be finishing off like in the Magic Millions, she will play a part."
Perfectly Proper comes out of barrier 16 and will be ridden by Clint Johnston-Porter while Talkanco has barrier five for Brad Parnham and Yes Queen is drawn in six for William Pike.
The race starts at 3pm, Singapore time. SKY RACING WORLD
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