Lonhro’s (Octagonal – Shadea, by Straight Strike) wonderful son Pierro (Lonhro – Miss Right Note, by Daylami) won’t run in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) despite crushing his opposition in the lead-up event, the Group 3 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill.
Pierro was irrepressible throughout his juvenile career, claiming the New South Wales two-year-old triple crown – the Golden Slipper, ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes and Champagne Stakes – in his six runs last season. His trainer Gai Waterhouse didn’t even bother trialling him ahead of the Run To The Rose.
The lack of a hit-out before his first-up run had no effect on the contest. Pierro’s tactical speed got him close to the early leader Ashokan (More Than Ready – November Flight, by Flying Spur) before he simply increased the pressure on his opposition once jockey Nash Rawiller asked for an effort.
Pierro was a class above his rivals in the final stages of the race, ambling to a 1-1/4-length win with 60kg over the emerging prospect Your Song (Fastnet Rock – Zembu, by Fuji Kiseki) while Epaulette (Commands – Accessories, by Singspiel).
“I wasn’t going to start him if I didn’t think he could wipe the floor with these horses,” Waterhouse said. “He is an outstanding, outstanding colt. He is Australia’s best by far.”
Waterhouse said Pierro would travel to Melbourne for the Group 2 Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley later this month before he tackles the Caulfield Guineas and Cox Plate.
The highly-touted Patinack Farm colt All Too Hard (Casino Prince – Helsinge, by Desert Sun) got back and made little impression on Pierro, beating one runner home.
Waterhouse paid $230,000 for Pierro at the 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The colt’s seventh win took his prizemoney tally past the $3 million mark