Pierro's Little Sister Books Her Ticket to the Oaks

Mark Smith - Wednesday September 23

Pierro’s little sister Pensato broke her maiden at her fifth start while stamping her credentials for the Victoria Oaks with a dominant performance in Wednesday’s Kennedy Oaks Trial (1800m) at Flemington.

Pensato leads home the pack in Oaks Trial (Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

Just two of the 13 starters went into the race with a win to their name.

A luckless third over 1300m at Geelong at her most recent start, the daughter of Lonhro had luck taken out of the equation when John Allen placed the James Cummings-trained filly on the outside of the pacesetting Breeze 'n' Luna in a slowly run race.

Left in front a long way out, Pensato kept up a relentless gallop to defeat Salto Angel (Sacred Falls) by one and a quarter lengths with Star Of Eden (Wandjina) a short-neck back in third ahead of Yatton (Savabeel) who was cramped for room down the straight.

“That was a nice way to break her maiden here at headquarters,” stable representative Sean Keogh said.  

“We always knew she had a turn of foot and she is a nice style of filly. Obviously, she is impeccably bred but whether she had the lungs to stay was a bit of a question mark coming here today, so she has ticked off that box.

Advertisement

“James will decide where she goes next, but she will be well suited at 10 furlongs.”

Bred to win anything - Pensato  (Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

While Pierro was only asked to go a mile and a quarter when third in the WS Cox Plate, Pensato’s half-sister Ambience (Street Cry) excelled over an extended trip winning the Group II Wakeful Stakes and placing in all three of the eastern seaboards Group 1 Oaks.

Godolphin sold a sister to Pensato and Pierro, Right Chord, for $1,050,000 to James Harron Bloodstock at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale carrying a positive test to Exceed And excel.

It’s not the first time that Godolphin has cashed in on the family.

They sold another full-sister, Madrigals, to Dean Hawthorn Bloodstock for $425,000 at the 2017 National broodmare Sale and famously sold Pierro as a weanling for $115,000 before he made $230,000 to the bid of Gai Waterhouse at the 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Their dam Miss Right Note (IRE) (Daylami) has a 2yo Street Boss (USA) colt named Backstreets and a yearling colt by Impending.

The half-sister to Octagonal’s dual Group 1 winner Laverock missed to Lonhro last year.

Advertisment

Race Result - Kennedy Oaks Trial 1800m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:52.45
1
Pensato
- 3f Lonhro (AUS) x Miss Right Note (IRE) (Daylami (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: John Allen 56
2
1.3
Salto Angel
- 3f Sacred Falls (NZ) x Jacilo (NZ) (Entrepreneur (GB))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: D Oliver 56
3
1.5
Star Of Eden
- 3f Wandjina (AUS) x Jujube (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: W Egan 56
4
1.6
Yatton
- 3f Savabeel (AUS) x O'Reilly Rose (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Jye McNeil 56
5
2.0
Swindon Lass
- 3f Wordsmith (AUS) x Splendid Thing (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Brown Rdr: Beau Mertens 56
6
2.2
Shilajit
- 3f Proisir (AUS) x Uno Sayuri (JPN) (Scatter The Gold (CAN))
Tnr: Dan O'Sullivan Rdr: M Rodd 56
7
2.3
Perfect World
- 3f Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Fiorentina (AUS) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: L Currie 56
8
2.4
Hard Squeeze
- 3f All Too Hard (AUS) x Exsqueeze Me (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: R D Griffiths Rdr: D Yendall 56
9
3.2
Blazing Lace
- 3f Toronado (IRE) x Lacey Underall (AUS) (Desert Sun (GB))
Tnr: Dan O'Sullivan Rdr: M J Dee 56
10
3.9
Proud Mary
- 3f Hinchinbrook (AUS) x Bronislava (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: D W Stackhouse 56
11
4.7
Art Glass
- 3f Sebring (AUS) x Crystal Flute (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: W Pike 56
12
5.2
Breeze 'n' Luna
- 3f Mongolian Khan (AUS) x Diamond Thorn (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Craig Williams 56
13
9.2
Alverio
- 3f Shamexpress (NZ) x Rita Moreno (NZ) (King's Chapel (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damian Lane 56
More Reading...
Generation Foals Built for Speed
Victorian farm Lovatsville offer a diverse stallion roster for this spring geared to satisfy a wide spectrum of breeder ambitions and if explosive Aussie speed is your thing then Snitzel stallion Generation will fit the bill.
New SW Wrote - Fast Network Wins G3 National Day Cup
Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel.
NZ Derby Hero Willydoit Primed for Epsom
Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile.
Bryce Bevan Appointed Head of Digital at Magic Millions
Magic Millions' commitment to conduct online thoroughbred auctions has received a huge boost with today's announcement that Bryce Bevan has been appointed as Head of Digital.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.
Promising Victory For Too Darn Hot’s Ripley
Racing in the same Qatar Bloodstock coloured silks worn to victory on Friday night by West of Swindon (Wootton Bassett) in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes, 3yo Too Darn Hot colt Ripley highlighted his future potential with a two-length maiden victory at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Hellbent Winner Impresses at Sha Tin
Astute trainer Mark Newnham paid $425,000 at the 2023 NZB Ready to Run Sale to secure a promising two year-old by Hellbent and Invincible Ibis delivered on that promise when scoring a last to first win at Sha Tin on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
King’s Legacy Filly Salutes for Yulong
The first stakes-winner for her sire King’s Legacy when winning the Group III SAJC David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) last season, Steel Trap was subsequently purchased by Yulong privately and she posted her first win in their colours at Sandown on Wednesday.
Talented So You Think Mare Goes Two for Two
So You Think is setting the pace for winners this season as we head into October and one of those promising winners is talented four year-old mare Enamorada, who made it two wins in as many starts when saluting at Sandown on Wednesday as favourite.