Prominent first crop sires Pierro and All Too Hard take their personal battle to Rosehill on Saturday where both have strong representation in the TAB.com.au Plate (1200m).
Both searching for their first winner, All Too Hard has the Gary Moore-trained colt All Too Huiying who was beaten less than a length from the winner when fourth at Rosehill at his career debut, while Pierro has two chances.
Making his career debut is the Bjorn Baker-trained colt Oenophile who was plucked out of the Three Bridges Thoroughbreds draft by Baker for $220,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling sale.
Out of the Melbourne winning Favourite Trick mare With Love, Oenophile is a half-brother to the popular Hoss Amour (General Nediym) a 3-time winner at Listed level.
Pierro's second starter is the Mark Newnham-trained Ipso Facto who has had the benefit of two recent runs, finishing third on both occasions at Canterbury and Rosehill.
Raced by his breeder, Paul Fudge's Waratah Thoroughbreds, Ipso Facto was consigned by Newgate Farm to the 2015 Magic Millions National Weanling sale where he failed to meet his $120,000 reserve.
He is the first foal of the Mr Greeley (USA) mare Red Hand a 425,000
A half-sister to the Chris Waller-trained import Dance Of Heroes (Danehill Dancer), Red Hand is out of the stakes-placed Sadler's Wells mare Helena Molony.
As can be guessed by her hefty price tag of 1,100,000
She is a sister to the champion High Chaparral (IRE) and the Group II Dante Stakes winner Black Bear Island and to the dams of
Coolmore Stud's champion Pierro (photo Mark Smith) has only had a handful of starters to date but we will be looking for the son of Lonhro to begin to ramp it up a bit towards next autumn.
