Carnarvon Cup winning co-trainer Ben Pearce has hailed a key equine mentor – legendary local horseman Peter Daly – after winning the coveted trophy with Outspoken Lad in a thrilling feature on Saturday.
The seven-year-old gelding just outlasted Lutz and Hafey – who had recently won the respective Derby and Junction Cups – for an ownership group headed by dual West Coast Eagles premiership vice-captain Michael Brennan. It took the winner’s career prizemoney tally to nearly $325,000.
Pearce, who co-trains Outspoken Lad with his brother Dan at their Karnup stables, said the victory made him immediately think back to 20 years ago in Carnarvon when Daly gave him some vital learnings in the equine training game.
“Before I started training, I was a farrier and I was coming up here once a month and shoeing all of Peter Daly’s horses,” Pearce said of the 12-time leading Carnarvon trainer.
“Pete is an outstanding horseman. Adam Durrant (a leading metropolitan trainer) has learnt a lot of him, I’ve learnt a lot off him and he’s just one of the good, old-school horsemen who can do everything.
“He’s not only a horse trainer, but he’s a farrier and a dentist and a vet. It’s been good to be associated with him and in the moment, winning the Carnarvon Cup is a good feeling.
“We’re here with some good mates, everyone is excited and that’s what it’s all about.”
Ben Pearce and the 2025 Carnarvon Cup post race.
While the Pearce brothers often have their horses in some of the State’s biggest races, Ben said events like the Canarvon Cup played an important role in the industry. The stable has also recently won the Kambalda, Tatts and Coolgardie Cups in Kalgoorlie.
“It is really important because a lot of the owners come from up in these regional areas,” he said.
“So if this racing wasn’t in front of people on the public stage in these regional areas, I think you would lose a lot of interest in horse racing. So it’s just so important that these races continue and keep that interest in these communities.”
Gascoyne Minister Hannah Beazley attended her first Carnarvon Cup on Saturday and said it was a joy to see some 1000 people socialising at one of the region’s key events. Ms Beazley presented the season’s Jockey of the Year award to Tash Faithful, who has overcome devastating injuries from a 2019 trackwork fall to become the leading county rider in Australia.
“Racing plays such an important role in the Gascoyne, not only as a sport, but as a driver of tourism, local business and community connection,” Ms Beazley said.
“Each visit (to the region) has deepened my appreciation for the people who live and work here and the strong sense of pride that underpins events like today. The Cook Labor Government is proud to back the future of regional racing.”
Racing in the Gascoyne region generates $13.9 million annually, while sustaining about 110 full-time jobs.
Carnarvon Race Club president Chris Fox said Cup day was a major highlight on the Gascoyne town’s annual social calendar.
“The social aspect of Carnarvon is just incredible and to have a brilliant day like this is such a great outlet for our little, tiny town,” Fox said.
“The employment we have from everyone getting ready and buying dresses and getting their hair done, to working out here today is just great. It’s a good earning point for the town.
“When people come out here, they already can’t wait for next year. They ask us to run events so they have that outlet and if you look at the demographics in this crowd, you see there is a whole heap of young crew.
“They don’t have much of an avenue to socialise or put their good threads on to strut their stuff, so it’s a great time for them.”
Bunbury-based trainer Ray Malpass capped off a consistent season that saw him snare the Leading Trainer award, by winning the final race on Cup day with 26-1 outside Money For Old Rope. The win also gave rising star jockey Sharni Webster a last-gasp victory in the Leading Apprentice award.
Evergreen 10-year-old gelding Lacevinsky, trained in Dongara by Jackie Scott, franked a remarkable career turnaround to win the fifth race on the card for jockey Natika Riordan and seal the Leading Horse title for the season.
It was Lacevinsky’s third recent race win for Scott after the horse had not tasted victory for more than three years.
Steve Butler
Outspoken Lad owner Michael Brennan.