Pierro 3YO Headed to Sydney

Media Release - Wednesday March 19

Derby placegetter Golden Century will travel to Sydney next week to contest the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill, ahead of a possible tilt at the A$2 million Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m).

While still a maiden after seven starts, Golden Century has shown promise from his debut and only narrowly missed the top honours in the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) in January. He continued on to the $1.25 million Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) on Champions Day, where he missed the start and powered home to finish third behind Willydoit and Thedoctoroflove.

Golden Century (left) will contest next Saturday's Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens.   Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Tony Pike has always held the son of Pierro in high regard and the Cambridge horseman was rapt with the performance.

“He was very slow away and probably didn’t have all favours when trying to improve into the race, but he closed off the race very strongly late and his sectionals were some of the best of the race,” Pike said.

“He’s heading the right way, he’s been very much a work in progress but we always thought he would be a genuine stayer and we couldn’t have been happier with the run, albeit not winning.

“He’s come through the race in great order and obviously he seems to be improving with each run, so we’ll take him over for the Tulloch Stakes on Saturday-week, and if he performs well in that, there’s no reason that he won’t back up a week later in the Derby.

“We gave him four or five days in the paddock post-Derby and we just kept him ticking over, he’s dropping back in trip to 2000m for the Tulloch so we’ve tried to freshen him up a touch.

“He’ll gallop tomorrow morning (Thursday) before he heads over next Tuesday.”

Advertisement

While Golden Century was purchased earlier in the season by Australian syndicators OTI Racing, there is no certainty that he will remain across the Tasman after the Derby.

“We’re not quite sure yet, we’ll have that discussion post the Derby with OTI and make that call,” Pike said.

To be run at Royal Randwick, Golden Century is currently rated a $13 chance in the TAB Futures market for the Australian Derby, with Willydoit on top at $3.60 ahead of Goldrush Guru ($4.50).

Closer to home this Saturday, Pike will have a sole representative travelling to Trentham in Val Di Zoldo. A Group Two winner over 2100m, the mare has been in solid form this preparation and will contest the Gr.3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (1600m).

“She’s coming up really well, her best form last year was during the autumn as well and she was very unlucky not to win the Travis Stakes at Group Two level,” Pike said.

“Third-up she should be peaking and it looks like a nice race for her, especially with the rain that is around. Any sort of cut in the track will benefit her.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Mixed Fortunes for Aussie Connected Sprinters
There were two important sprint races run overnight in the UK and Ireland and both had key runners with strong Australian interest in Zoustar mare Mgheera and the former Waterhouse  Bott trained colt Storm Boy.
G1 Stradbroke Next for War Machine
Hot favourite War Machine made light work of his rivals in the Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday and it is now all systems go as the four-year-old son of Harry Angel (IRE) heads towards the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 14.  
Brisbane Possible for Resurgent Velocious
Group One winner Velocious bounced back to her brilliant best in the Jarvis Trading (1100m) at Te Rapa on Saturday, raising the possibility of a trans-Tasman mission.
Almanzor Keeps Winners Coming for Moody- Coleman
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Roadcone led his rivals a merry dance when winning the Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (1600m) at Sandown on Saturday, bringing up a treble for the stable and jockey Luke Cartwright.
Flashy Grey Kingman Colt Wins Irish 2,000 Guineas
Juddmonte Farms have been firing through spring of the euro flat season and they produced the quinella overnight at The Curragh with Kingman colts finishing one and two in the Group I Irish 2,000 Guineas (1m) and leading the way was Field of Gold, who was purchased as a weanling  for €530,000.
OTI Move on Promising Pierro 3YO
Tony Pike is confident Golden Century can realise his full potential over ground and his opinion has been endorsed by a major international player.
Pierro 3YO Overdue for Breakthrough
Tony Pike has used the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) as a launchpad to Derby success on several occasions and he hopes to continue that trend with a pair of contenders on Saturday at Te Rapa.
Antino King of Doomben with Track Record Breaking Victory
Trainer Tony Gollan has earmarked the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) as the long-range target for star galloper Antino after a stunning victory in the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on Saturday in track record time.
Pierro 3YO Looking for Stakes Break Through Win
Potential Group One contender Golden Century will have his chance to shine on Sunday when he steps up to a middle distance on a roomier track.
Philia Highlights Oaks Claims With Tenacious The Roses Win
Successful last time out in the Listed Princess Stakes when becoming the 30th stakes winner for her sire All Too Hard, the David Vandyke trained Philia went four from four this time in, leading through to win the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben.