Pearce Racing and managing owner-breeder Ian Riley have decided to spell their top-class filly Talkanco rather than extend an autumn campaign that climaxed with an outstanding victory in the G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) on Saturday.

Talkanco (I’m All The Talk) was well-placed in the running line for Brad Parnham and he elected to stay three off the rails when the leaders angled wider on the home turn.  Saving ground made all the difference as Talkanco sprinted clear to score by three-quarters of a length from Just Too Fly (Justify) and Snitzalatte (Snitzel).

Talkanco (2f I’m All The Talk – Calianco by California Dane) joins Amelia’s Jewel (2022) and Whispering Brook (2016) as the only horses to complete the G3 Gimcrack Stakes – G2 Karrakatta Plate double since the turn of the century.  The Pearce Racing team was also doubling up in the Karrakatta having won Perth’s 2YO Grand Final with Dig Deep (Deep Field) in 2019.

“When they fanned on corner she produced that brilliant turn of foot,” co-trainer Dan Pearce said earlier this week.  “She’s a good-sized filly and has matured mentally since her initial campaign but we won’t push on to the (G3) WA Sires’ Produce Stakes.

“She looks more like a 3yo but we don’t want to overdo it.  She will head to the paddock for a well-earned spell and come back in the spring.  We will sit down with Ian and discuss whether we should concentrate on sprints or stretch out to a mile.

“He bred her and knows the family and what her pedigree says.”

Riley owns Woodbridge Thoroughbreds at Henley Brook and manages a syndicate of friends who have banked over $500,000 in prizemoney since Talkanco won on debut at Ascot in November.

She is from the final book sired by I’m All The Talk (Stratum) who died after just six seasons at Mungrup Stud and Darling View Thoroughbreds in what was a huge loss for the local breeding and racing industries.

I’m All The Talk was Champion WA 2YO Sire and First-season sire in 2019-20 and Champion WA second-season sire and WA Champion 3yo Sire in 2020-21.  He’s also in pole position to claim another WA 2YO Sires’ title in 2024-25 with progeny earnings more than double his nearest rival.

He went further ahead yesterday when Deltason landed the Reliable Asset Maintenance Plate (1400m) at Ascot.  He’s a homebred for Don Hammarquist (Northern Thoroughbreds) and the $38,430 in prizemoney and Westspeed Bonuses on Wednesday sent his 2yo earnings through $816,000.

The last stallion to better that sum in a complete season was Scenic Lodge resident Universal Ruler ($843,000) in 2017-18.