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.

Advertisement

“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.

Advertisment

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
More Reading...
Henry Dwyer Secures Top Lot on Day 4 Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale
Promising Wootton Bassett two-year-old SKIATHOS topped the fourth day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale at 150,000 guineas with robust trade resulting in a clearance rate of 90% for the session. Turnover for the sale exceeded 33,000,000 guineas for only the fourth time in its history with a fifth and final session still to come on Friday, followed immediately by the Tattersalls Aut
More Success for Pierro's War Eternal
Accomplished galloper War Eternal scored the fifth win of his career and took his earnings past A$750,000 with a determined victory in Saturday’s Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill.
Yulong Purchase into Star Kiwi Trained Filly
Yulong has purchased a 50 percent share in outstanding prospect Well Written with welcome news that she will remain in the care of Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh for the rest of her racing career.
Sires With Winners - Friday October 31
Here is the full list of 45 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
VRC Oaks contender headlines November (Early) Online Sale
An exciting opportunity is presented in the Inglis Digital November (Early) Online Sale next week when a share in a runner bound for Thursday’s $1m G1 VRC Oaks is offered.
Go Racing Hoping for Big Day at Randwick
New Zealand syndicator Go Racing will be out to plunder the riches on offer at Randwick on Saturday, with their silks to be represented in two of the meeting’s key races.
First Foal of Melody Belle a Winner!
Two time NZ Horse of the Year and a 14-time G1 winner, Melody Belle was a big ticket purchase for Yulong at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when  they paid $2.6million for the daughter of Commands and she produced her first winner for them at Cranbourne on Friday night.
Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale Concludes - Aussies Spend Up
The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training & Yearling Sale concluded on the fifth and final day of a sale that has been plundered by Australasian purchasers who spent over 3million guineas on no fewer than 25 lots.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes
Derby Day! It's the race day for purists, when the biggest and best pedigrees tend to be on show, and their merits are tested over all distances.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
Four heats for juveniles run at Warwick Farm on Friday and we saw winners by Trapeze Artist, Tassort, Exceed and Excel and first season sire Wild Ruler, while from a pedigree perspective a Godolphin filly that ran second was the obvious highlight.