One To Watch - Randwick

Mark Smith - Sunday August 21

John O'Shea has resisted the temptation to tackle stakes races with the 4-year-old gelding Pizarro, but there could be a nice race over the Spring Carnival for the progressive son of All Too Hard.

Closing out a champagne day's racing at Randwick on Saturday, Pizarro staged a last-to-first performance in the Darwin Turf Club Hcp (1200m).

Advertisement

Lumping 58kgs, Pizarro scythed between runners in the straight under Hugh Bowman to defeat the consistent Street Boss (USA) mare Arbitration by a widening one and a half lengths while conceding her 4.5kgs.

Never off the board in eight starts, Pizarro advances his record to three wins, four seconds, and a third with prizemoney of $292,225.

The strapping chestnut tended to over-race early in his career but has learned to settle and finish his races off.

Purchased by Champion Thoroughbreds / John O'Shea Racing for $150,000 from the Vinery Stud draft at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Pizarro is a half-brother to Group III VRC The Vanity and Listed SAJC Morphettville Guineas winner Bonvicini (Myboycharlie).

Bred by Greg Perry, who has retained a share in his ownership, Pizarro is the second foal of the Testa Rossa mare Orvieto who started five times for two wins at Geelong and one at Kyneton and was third at Caulfield.

Pizarro a $150,000 Inglis Premier yearling

Out of the stakes-placed Unbridled's Song (USA) mare Radio Song, who was a $220,000 purchase for Cliff Brown at the 2012 Gold Coast Yearling Sale

Orvieto has a 3yo filly by Dundeel and a 2yo filly by Toronado (IRE). She was covered by Toronado (IRE) again last spring after missing to an earlier cover by Frosted (USA).

Advertisment

Race Result - Darwin Turf Club (Bm78) 1200m

Randwick Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:11.08
1
Pizarro
- 4g All Too Hard (AUS) x Orvieto (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: J Bowman 58
2
1.5
Arbitration
- 4m Street Boss (USA) x Moderate (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Tim Clark 53.5
3
1.6
Larkspur Run
- 4m Shamardal (USA) x Aspen (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: S Clipperton 56.5
4
2.5
Zarastro
- 4g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Adrift (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57.5
5
2.9
Molly Nails
- 5m Tavistock (NZ) x Maritimo (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Dale Rdr: Reece Jones 53
6
3.2
Conrad
- 4g Maurice (JPN) x No Comment (AUS) (Danzero (AUS))
Tnr: Ms K Waugh Rdr: N Rawiller 57
7
3.6
Mayrose
- 4m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Mallard (NZ) (Falkirk (NZ))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: J R Collett 57
8
4.1
Cisco Bay
- 8g So You Think (NZ) x Imagining (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 56
9
5.1
Catesby
- 8g Shamardal (USA) x Mannington (AUS) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: B M Lazzarini Rdr: Rachel King 58
10
5.3
Burning Crown
- 7g Helmet (AUS) x Scarlet Silk (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: Ms S Grills Rdr: J Parr 57.5
11
6.6
Super
- 7g Snitzel (AUS) x Good Weekend (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: M S Minervini Rdr: Tyler Schiller 52.5
More Reading...
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Bright Future for Pizarro
Unraced at two, the John O’Shea trained All Too Hard gelding Pizarro has had a productive season at three and capped it with a determined victory at Rosehill on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
All Too Hard's Pizarro Breaks Through
Following seconds at Hawkesbury and Canterbury to kick-start his career, it was third time lucky for the John O'Shea-trained Pizarro at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. However, he would not have wanted one metre further than the 1300m.  
Juvenile and Spring Trial Watch
Trials were run at Randwick on Monday morning with one heat for juveniles won by a colt bred to be better at three and an older horse caught our eye that may well be the next stakes-winner for Alligator Blood’s sire All Too Hard.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.