Agent Pippa looked every inch a professional winning the opening juvenile race of the Ascot season on Saturday.

The flying filly trounced a field of first-starters as the $3.50 favourite when presented by in-form trainers Dan & Ben Pearce. Taken straight to the front by Joe Azzopardi, she accelerated off the corner to establish a commanding lead at the furlong.

The dominant win also gave Taunton Vale sire Demerit an early lead on the WA 2YO table with $71,000 in prizemoney and Westspeed bonuses for part-owners Wes Martin and Nathan Hebbard.

Agent Pippa had won a Lark Hill trial in the fastest time of the morning last Monday and backed up within five days. “Not many could have done that,” Ben Pearce claimed. “She’s an advanced filly and was beating older horses when she was still a yearling!

“You can’t make definite plans for the babies – it’s day-by-day – but the Crystal Slipper will probably be her next start next month.”

Agent Pippa is the second Demerit winner for Female Agent (Commands). She won at Ballarat and Wyong and was purchased off the track by Premium Bloodstock (FBAA) agent Grant Burns on behalf of Taunton Vale owners Kent and Nina Johnston.

Her first winner – Double Digit – doubled up at Northam and Belmont earlier this season for Lancelin trainer Ash Maley. The mare foaled another Demerit colt in September. Second-dam Develan was a Listed winner of the 2000 William Inglis Cup at Moonee Valley

Demerit sired a double at the last set of Lark Hill trials – Yukianna won a 400m hit-out but ran out of condition chasing Agent Pippa on Saturday. Prepared by Aaron Bazeley, she is from Mirrannon (Ihtiram) who won races at Belmont and Bunbury (5).

Demerit (Lonhro) stands for a bargain-based $3,300 (inc gst) service fee at Taunton Vale.

DEMERIT