Derby Hero for Pierro

Tara Madgwick - Saturday April 7
He might have won a Golden Slipper and been the Champion 2YO of his generation, but as a sire Pierro is taking his brilliance in a new direction with a Group I VRC Oaks winner in the spring in Pinot and now a Group I ATC Australian Derby winner in the autumn.



The Peter Gelagotis trained colt Levendi put the writing on the wall when winning the Group II ATC Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill last Saturday over 2000 metres and again showed his class and tenacity when stepping up to the 2400 metres of the Blue Riband.

Levendi levels up to Ace High and refuses to loseRidden a treat by Mark Zahra, Levendi settled midfield and after turning for home set out after quality colt Ace High, who won the Victoria Derby and was looking to make it a Derby double.

Ace High never shirked his task for a second, but when you put a Pierro into a dog fight, that's the dog you want to be on.

Just like his father, Levendi refused to lose, wearing down the other colt to win by a nose with nearly six lengths back to third place-getter Tangled.

The runner-up lodged an unsuccessful protest with Levendi (images Steve Hart) declared the winner to the great delight of his connections.

"He was really strong, you could see at the top of the straight he was going to figure in the finish," said Manny Gelagotis, who shared in the victory with his brother Peter.

"Full credit to Ace High, it was a great battle, but fortunately we got the job done."

Levendi has won five of 10 starts earning over $1.6 million in prizemoney for his big team of owners.

A $140,000 Magic Millions purchase for Manny Gelagotis from the Widden Stud draft, Levendi was bred by long time Widden client Robert Anderson.

Foaled and raised at Widden, Levendi is the second winner for stakes-placed Redoute's Choice mare Lipari, a daughter of Group I winner Tully Thunder.

She has a yearling filly by Sebring that will be offered by Widden Stud at Inglis Easter as Lot 207.



The second Group I winner for Pierro, Levendi is one of six stakes-winners this season for his sire, who has 21 entries for the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.


Advertisment
More Reading...
A Century of NZB National Yearling Sales Success: Cox Plate
Moonee Valley’s A$6m Group One WS Cox Plate (2040m) is known as the weight-for-age championship of Australasia and has been won by many of Australia and New Zealand’s greatest thoroughbreds.
$140,000 NZB Ready to Run Graduate Books Ticket to G1 Victoria Derby
Bred for stamina being by Melbourne Cup winner Shoicking from a daughter of Tavistock, talented Kiwi bred three-year-old Azazel has booked his passage for the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) on Saturday week after a tough victory in the Listed Roderick Insurance Brokers 3YO Geelong Classic (2200m) at Geelong on Thursday.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
The Rosehill trials on Friday morning featured a couple of juvenile heats and both winners came out of the Widden Stud draft at Magic Millions with one topping the sale at $2.8million and the other selling for a modest $150,000.
$400,000 Invincible Filly a Grand Investment
A three-quarter sister-in-blood to dual Group I winning mare Charm Stone, stakes-placed I Am Invincible filly Naifah always looked well bought at the 2025 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $400,000.
Coolmore Favs get the Flemington Straight Experience in Jump Outs
Beiwacht, Beadman and Skyhook, three of the top four in the market for next month’s Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes had a jump out down the Flemington straight on Friday with Beadman quite the eye-catcher.
Good News Week for Geisel Park
Geisel Park’s black-type mare Laced Up Heels is in foal off a maiden cover to Champion Australian Sire Zoustar and an orphan foal has found a new mum.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 MVRC Cox Plate
An emotional week in Australasian racing approaches its crescendo as we count down to the final Cox Plate before a radical new era in its history begins and we mourn the passing of one of its greatest champions.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 23
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Tarzino Stayer Wins G3 Geelong Cup
Trainer Paul Preusker will get another tilt at a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) after Torranzino ran out a strong winner of the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on Thursday.
Second Wootton Bassett Son Added to Coolmore Stallion Roster for 2026
Set to join Camille Pissarro as the second G1 winning son of Wootton Bassett on the stallion roster for Ireland in 2026 is Henri Matisse, who this time last year was about to claim his first G1 victory at the Breeders Cup meeting at Del Mar.