Pierro Gelding War Eternal Cracks $600,000 in Prizemoney

Tara Madgwick - Saturday July 13

Expat New Zealand trainer Bjorn Baker was tossing up between a couple of different options for Kiwi bred Pierro gelding War Eternal this weekend, but he pulled the right rein and was rewarded with victory at Randwick on Saturday.

War Eternal gets the job done at Randwick - image Steve Hart

Baker had also entered War Eternal for Sunday’s $80,000 South Grafton Cup (1610m) at Grafton, which had the added bonus of being a qualifying race for the A$3 million The Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick in November, but went with the higher prizemoney of the $160,000 Benchmark 88 event over 1400m.

Sent out as a $2.50 favourite for jockey Jason Collett, War Eternal dropped back to third-last in a race that was run at a solid tempo. Collett angled War Eternal to the outside at the top of the straight and warmed him into his work. The five-year-old lengthened stride and reeled in the leaders, hitting the front inside the final 100m to win by three-quarters of a length.

Placed in multiple Group races at three, War Eternal has the overall record of four wins and six placings from 23 starts with prizemoney topping $600,000.

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“It’s good to see him getting back into some of his better form,” stable representative Luke Hilton said.

“He did run fourth behind Converge (Frankel) and Anamoe (Street Boss) in a Randwick Guineas. We’re delighted to see him back winning races. He had a long time off, so big thanks to the owners for being so patient, and it’s great to see him back in the winners’ circle on a Saturday.

“Choosing between this race and Grafton was a hard one, and we had a good think about it all week. That Big Dance eligibility was a big carrot at Grafton, but it was double the prize-money to come here today, and I think that’s what swayed Bjorn in the end. It was a good win, and I’m sure we’ll have some other opportunities to qualify him for The Big Dance later on.”

Bred by Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay War Eternal was purchased by Baker out their 2020 Karaka Book 1 draft for $160,000.

War Eternal is the best of two winners from Fastnet Rock mare Aleria, a placed daughter of stakes-winner Impressive Eagle from the family of Group I winner Eagle Way.

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Race Result - Kanebridge (Bm88) 1400m

Randwick Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:26.03
1
War Eternal
- 5g Pierro (AUS) x Aleria (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: J R Collett 58.5
2
0.7
Tijuana
- 4g American Pharoah (USA) x Mexican Rose (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: Zac Lloyd 57
3
2.4
Bojangles
- 3g Showtime (AUS) x Hetty Heights (AUS) (Written Tycoon (AUS))
Tnr: Ms K Waugh Rdr: J Ford 54.5
4
3.6
Excelladus
- 5g So You Think (NZ) x Russeting (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: S Clipperton 60.5
5
3.9
Testator Silens
- 6g Star Witness (AUS) x So Detached (AUS) (One Cool Cat (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: N Rawiller 58
6
7.7
Lady Of Luxury
- 6m Criterion (NZ) x Miss Beauty World (AUS) (God's Own (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 54.5
7
7.8
Vintage Kod
- 4g Kodiac (GB) x Engage (IRE) (Pour Moi (IRE))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: C Schofield 56
8
8.5
High Blue Sea
- 4g Merchant Navy (AUS) x Bodhi Blue (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: Regan Bayliss 54
9
8.9
Russian Roni
- 4g Russian Revolution (AUS) x Cadet Roni (USA) (Colonel John (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Amy Mc Lucas 54
10
16.5
Substantial
- 6g Siyouni (FR) x Sentaril (GB) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: R Hutchings 58
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