Action Ann time again!

ACTION ANN, named for the rookie politician, Ann-Marie Vaz, who stunned her seasoned rival, Damion Crawford, to enter Gordon House as the representative for East Portland in the last general election, looks set to put another 'unknown' on the map, Christopher Pearson.

A son of trainer Anthony Pearson and brother to Robert, who Diamond Mile winner WILL IN CHARGE put in the limelight as the 2018 Horse of the Year, Christopher spends most of his time in the backwaters at HAM Stables Ltd as a farm manager, while starting a handful of average horses.

However, ACTION ANN, handed to Robert by HAM partner Howard Hamilton, co-owner with Member of Parliament Daryl Vaz, ran a scorcher to land a seven-furlong maiden event for two-year-olds on her fourth outing in December, colts and geldings included, clocking 1:25.1 on a fast track.

ACTION ANN's 13-length victory makes her the favourite for Saturday's fillies-only Hot Line Stakes at six furlongs, en route to next month's Thornbird Stakes and the 1000 Guineas set for June.

Facing eight rivals, ACTION ANN hasn't raced since winning on December 23, nor has she been as flashy at exercise as she was prior to her maiden victory. However, put that down to Pearson's 'handle with care' as he preps the daughter of Ladylike for bigger things to come this season.

Though she hasn't been exactly flying at exercise, Pearson has her keeping company with quality runners for respective workouts, sprint and long, first upside his brother's importee, SOLID APPROACH, in a three-furlong spin before accompanying Philip Feanny's BATTLE DANCER for five furlongs on the round last Saturday morning.

SOLID APPROACH was last seen beating the likes of four-year-old LABAN and Cash Pot Trophy winner, three-year-old DEN STREET, at six furlongs on January 31. BATTLE DANCER is hunting his third win in Saturday's night pan, taking on LET HIM FLY, EXCESSIVE FORCE, AWESOME TREASURE and company.

Philip Feanny's MAGENTA, who made all on her two-year-old debut last Boxing Day, narrowly beating return winners BERN NOTICE and REGAL AND ROYAL, has good pedigree, a half-sister to multiple winner PHINEAS, to make her a dangerous foe.

MAGENTA returns with tongue tie fitted and will run on lasix for the first, signaling she's coming to run her heart out from a favourable draw, post-position one, which could ensure a rail-hugging trip for the speedster.

However, MAGENTA will have nagging company on the lead as SILVER HAWK, KATALINA, MAGICAL MOOD and SURE CURLIN are all out to take their chances on the lead, which could prove tricky at six furlongs on a relatively heavy track.

ACTION ANN was noted putting in her strongest gallops at the back end of her victory, pulling away impressively inside the last furlong, after a 1:11.0 six-furlong split. The track was indeed fast, but it was the same afternoon that DOUBLE CROWN and SUPERLUMINAL ran similar fractions, 1:11.0 and 1:11.2, winning their respective races at seven and a half and a mile.