Formula One fans would have thrown a bet on promising two year-old Choisir colt Piastri, who opened his account with an easy win at Ballarat on Tuesday.
Piastri wins at Ballarat - image Ross Holburt / Racing Photos
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Piastri was fitted with blinkers and improved sharply off a debut sixth at Sale earlier this month to score by more than two lengths in the 1100m maiden.
Piastri is one of 13 two year-olds in the last crop of foals by the original Royal Ascot Aussie trailblazer Choisir, who passed away in 2021.
Bred and sold by Gilgai Farm, Piastri made $200,000 at the Magic Millions Weanling Sale when bought by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock. He is the third winner from four foals to race from classy Encosta de Lago mare Costa Viva, winner of the Group I NZ Thousand Guineas.
The Choisir x Encosta de Lago nick has been spectacularly successful with 43 winners from 56 runners tracking at over 76% winner to runners and six stakes-winners headed by Group I winners Divine Prophet and Japonisme with the SW to runner at nearly 11%.
There have been three runners so far from that final crop by Choisir and two have won and the third is the Annabel Neasham trained Group placed filly Empress of Wonder, who will be a short priced favourite when she returns from a spell.
