Group One Sprint Goals for Pierata

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday December 18
A Golden Slipper winner and now a leading sire Pierro has plenty of exciting horses to run for him in the autumn, but none more so than his stunning four year-old son Pierata, who is overdue to rack up a deserved Group I win.

The Greg Hickman trained Pierata has won six of his 15 starts earning over $2.7 million and was last seen finishing third in ta top class renewal of the Group I VRC Sprint Classic.

PierataHis best wins to date have come in the Group II ATC Missile Stakes, Group III ATC Sydney Stakes and Bill Ritchie Stakes as well as last year's Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, but a Group I win has so far proven elusive.

He just returned to work following a spell at Torryburn Stud and Greg Hickman will now seek to address that missing Group I win in 2019

"He came back yesterday and looks enormous," Hickman told Racenet.

"He's come back with nice coverage.

"If you look at the picture when he went out and the one when he came back you can see a more mature horse.

"I'm looking at him now over the box and I think wow.

"His jowl has got stronger, his neck has got thicker and this will be his preparation hopefully."

Hickman will plan a program that will see Pierata race exclusively in Sydney during the autumn, targeted at three Group I weight-for-age sprints.

"He's a very athletic horse and his movements are very good," he said.

"When we got on him this morning, he launched six foot in the air, took a leap and a bound.

"He'll have two trials leading into the three races we're looking to target. The ATC Canterbury Stakes, TJ Smith (Stakes) and All aged Stakes."

A highly desirable stallion prospect, Pierata is a half-brother to Group III winner Ashokan from Group III winning Flying Spur mare November Flight from a daughter of champion sire Zabeel.

He is the fastest son of Pierro, who has already sired 13 stakes-winners from his first two crops including three Group I winners in Arcadia Queen, Pinot and Levendi.

Advertisment
More Reading...
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Best On Breeding
Group 1 action with the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington where the 'favourite for everything in 2020' Russian Camelot will have the red carpet rolled out, with other highlights being the return of Farnan in a fascinating Group II  Run to the Rose Stakes at Rosehill, and with stakes action and million-dollar babies galore, just buckle up for another magnificent day of racing aroun
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Pierro’s $1 Million Son Dragon Leap Stakes His Claim for the NZ Derby
Talented three-year-old Dragon Leap (Pierro) stamped his Derby credentials with his winning effort in the Group II Jamieson Park Auckland Guineas (1600m) at Ellerslie on Wednesday.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
$550,000 Pierro Filly Brings Joy to Queenslanders
Coolmore’s Golden Slipper winner Pierro is currently the leading sire in the country by earnings and stakes-winners, but has been somewhat flying under the radar at Magic Millions with a filly from Phoenix Park selling on Friday for $550,000.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.