Piastri Breaks the Ice

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday June 27

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.

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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.

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Race Result - Hertz Ballarat Mdn Plate 1100m

Ballarat Synthetic Track: Synthetic(0) Time: 1:05.78
1
Piastri
- 2c Choisir (AUS) x Costa Viva (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ben Allen 58
2
2.3
Inexorable
- 2g Dandino (GB) x Savababe (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: G M Begg Rdr: D W Stackhouse 58
3
4.6
Holler Point
- 2f Holler (AUS) x Propelled (AUS) (Magnus (AUS))
Tnr: Ms A Macpherson Rdr: D L Turner 56
4
5.5
Launch Sequence
- 2c Brazen Beau (AUS) x She's A Youeffoh (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: M J Ellerton Rdr: Liam Riordan 58
5
6.2
Dynamic One
- 2g Super One (AUS) x Queen Of Kandy (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody Rdr: Zac Spain 58
6
7.0
Clear Mission
- 2c The Mission (AUS) x Clearfield (NZ) (Jimmy Choux (NZ))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: John Allen 58
7
9.2
Bonsafox
- 2f Bon Aurum (AUS) x Fox Two (AUS) (Smart Missile (AUS))
Tnr: Ms W Kelly Rdr: Jarrod Fry 56
8
10.0
My Lady Grace
- 2f Hellbent (AUS) x Noble Quality (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Lloyd Kennewell Rdr: Will Price 56
9
10.2
Geometric
- 2g Shooting To Win (AUS) x Parallel Lines (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Lachlan King 58
10
12.2
Attaboom
- 2g Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Headway (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: Anthony Cosgriff Rdr: Thomas Doyle 58
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