Fifth G1 Winner for Pierro

Tara Madgwick - Saturday October 12
Golden Slipper winner Pierro has made a brilliant start to the new season and has two favourites for The Everest in Pierata and Arcadia Queen, but he also has a new Group I winning three year-old with exciting young stayer Shadow Hero scoring a dominant win in the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes over 2000 metres at Randwick.



Raised and sold by Newgate Farm, the Mark Newnham-trained gelding was a hot favourite and zoomed home from back in the field to overhaul the leaders and win by a length for Josh Parr over last season's Group I winning colt Castelvecchio.

Mark Newnham and Josh Parr - winners are grinners - images Steve HartFor trainer Mark Newnham it was back to back wins in the race as he won the Spring Champion Stakes last year with classy filly Maid of Heaven.

"It was pretty special," said Mark Newnham.

"Last year we came here as a 10/12-1 chance and you give yourself a chance of winning. Here we were expected to win. I've thought for the last 3 months that this is the race for him. It's just terrific that the plan has come together."

Purchased by Sweetbriar Equine for $260,000 out of the Newgate Farm draft at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Shadow Hero was bred by Greg and Donna Kolivos, who raced his sire Pierro.

He has put together an impressive record with three wins and two placings from six starts with earnings in excess of $800,000.

Shadow Hero as a yearling"He's a really clean winded animal and any time he gallops he hardly blows, Newnham said.

"Getting to these sort of trips on a big track like Randwick is what we've been waiting for. Just for the whole plan to come together with owners out from Hong Kong, we mapped out the trials and runs."

Now headed for the Group I VRC Victoria Derby next month, Shadow Hero is the second foal and second winner out of Group III winner Sookie, a grand-daughter of Champion 2YO Filly Victory Vein by Casino Prince. Sookie has a yearling filly by Pierro to follow and was not covered last spring.

Shadow Hero is the fifth Group I winner for Pierro who is fully booked at Coolmore this spring at a fee of $88,000.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
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.
Nicks That Click – One of the Best
Two of Australia’s biggest farms in Arrowfield and Coolmore have very different stallion rosters, but in the instance of this nick they have created a match made in heaven.
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
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
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.
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.
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.
$900,000 Pierro Colt Bred on Magic Cross Leads the Way
Waikato bloodstock agent Garry Carvell went home with the horse he wanted on the first day of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.