Sydney’s super colt Pierro confirmed his standing as the best of his age in Australia with a consummate victory in the Group Two Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
And the ease and brilliance of his win suggested he would be back in a month to prove himself the best of any age.
Pierro winning the City Jeep Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia (Steven Dowden)
Pierro ($1.06 fav) cruised to a 4-3/4 length win with jockey Nash Rawiller being as kind as he could be.
Carringbush Jack ($71) held on for second after leading to the 300m to finish 2-1/2 lengths in front of Jimando ($13).
“It was just a galloping lesson,” said trainer Gai Waterhouse.
” We’re very privileged to see a colt as good as this.”
After winning the start Rawiller settled Pierro behind Carringbush Jack until his patience ran out and he eased around the leader and strolled to the front before straightening.
“I wanted to be as soft as possible, but still get the job done,” Rawiller said.
While the $132,000 Pierro picked up for his win made it worth the effort, the more significant reason for the visit to Moonee Valley was to rehearse for the $3 million Cox Plate at the same track on October 27.
For that purpose the night was a resounding success.
“He handled it as though he’s been here a hundred times,” Rawiller said.
“He’ll be even better when he comes back.”
Pierro immediately firmed in to $3.80 favouritism for the feature weight-for-age contest and is at $1.70 for his next engagement, the Group One Caulfield Guineas on October 13.
The night’s other major spring carnival guide, the Group Three JRA Cup (2040m) went to Bianmick ($21) who led home a field full of disappointments, including Precedence, Excluded and Alcopop.
A noted wet tracker, Bianmick proved to be equally at home on firmer going, scoring his fifth win from his past seven starts.
His trainer Michael Brady has a stable of one and has entered his horse in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
