Pierro Stallion Wins Missile

Tara Madgwick - Saturday August 4
The Group II ATC Missile Stakes was won by champion racehorse and sire Lonhro in 2002 and the 2018 rendition at Randwick on Saturday did look as thought it might be a tribute to 'the black flash' on paper.

 

Pierata holds off KementariAnd so it turned out with his grand-son Pierata scoring a determined win over his valiant son Kementari.


The Greg Hickman trained Pierata was the star of the Queensland Summer Carnival reeling off a string of eye-catching wins culminating in a lucrative victory in the $2million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

After a short break he took on the A graders in Sydney finishing second twice to Kementari in the Group II ATC Hobartville Stakes (1400m) and then the Group I ATC Randwick Guineas (1600m). On both occasions Pierata figured in the steward's report and you always had the feeling there was a little unfinished business between these two exceptional colts (images Steve Hart) .

Tuned up in recent barrier trials for their return, Godolphin trainer James Cummings had Kementari fit and ready fire, while Greg Hickman was confident Pierata was ready to give the favourite a run for his money.

With just three slots in the $13million The Everest in October up for grabs, the Missile Stakes had a special significance this year and it was game on!

Pierata raced closest to the lead, travelling on the outside of the pair behind the speed set by The Monstar while Kementari was two pairs further back.

Greg Hickman and James McDonaldPierata sprinted quickly with 300m to run, charging up to a gallant The Monstar before Kementari powered home late, cutting back the margin with every stride to miss by a long head. They ran the 1200 metres in a brisk 1:08.41.

"This horse, all he wants to does is want to please you," said winning rider James McDonald.


"He's a pretty good horse that only does what he has to.

"He got to them quick, got great acceleration. He moves like a dream.

"I wouldn't want it over again, hitting the lead at the furlong, that was a bit of a mistake.

"As a racehorse, he ticks all the boxes."

It was a relieved winning trainer Greg Hickman that welcomed his star galloper when he returned to scale.

"You always doubt things after running against restricted fields and the rest of it but it's all good now," Hickman said.

"The doubt's gone out of our mind.

"He goes alright this horse. He might be a bit special."

Following the win, Pierata's quote for The Everest was slashed into $11, from a high of $51 earlier this week.

"I don't really know what's happening with him in regards to what races he's running in," Hickman said. "We'll let the dust settle and worry about that next week."

Pierata as a yearlingA $160,000 Magic Millions purchase for Greg Hickman from the Kitchwin Hills draft, Pierata runs for a big syndicate of some 20 owners and has the imposing record of five wins and four placings from 11 starts with prizemoney in excess of $2.3million.

Pierata was bred by Hobartville Stud and is a half-brother to Group III winning juvenile Ashokan.He is the fourth winner from Group III winning Flying Spur mare November Flight, who has a yearling colt by Rubick and will foal again this spring to Pierata's sire Pierro.

The reigning Champion Australian Second Season Sire, Golden Slipper winner Pierro has shown himself to be a remarkable source of quality performers, not just classic horses like his Derby hero Levendi and Oaks queen Pinot, but also a genuinely top class sprinter miler like Pierata.

The champion son of Lonhro stands at Coolmore this spring at a fee of $88,000.




Advertisment
More Reading...
G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
She's Unusual Keeps Good Times Rolling
Continued success with resident stallion Unusual Suspect and their racing team has kept Nigel and Adaire Auret busier than they may have envisaged, but without any complaints.
Resolute Racing Purchase Top Lot Goffs Orby Day 1
The Goffs Orby Yearling Sale kicked off overnight and the top lot on Day 1 was a colt by Blue Point purchased by John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock for €675,000, while Wootton Bassett produced the top selling filly, whose half-brother Trinity College is now in Australia.
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 29
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Jenni The Pride of Trelawney
Comeback mare Pride Of Jenni has given Trelawney Stud a number of reasons to look forward to the spring after a dashing victory in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) on Friday night.
Pedigree Potential –NZB Ready to Run – Nicks that Click
A quality packed catalogue for the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale is now online and in the lead up to the sale we’ll go looking each week for some horses of interest that jump out on pedigree for various reasons.
Equimillion This Long Weekend – Draws and Start Lists
Racing NSW have their annual Equimillion event coming up this long weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park and for people interested in off the trackers it’s a showcase for the sport, so let’s take a look at who’s who in the zoo.
Karaka Million Dreaming for Out of the Blue
Te Akau Racing marketing manager Julia-Rose Hayes has had plenty of success syndicating horses selected by her father, David Ellis, and that has continued with her latest syndicate.
Tara Talks Racing - Insights from a Legend - Darren Beadman
Beiwacht upstaged his more fancied rivals to win the $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose last Saturday in course record breaking style to become the hottest colt in Australia giving us the opportunity to chat to a legend that has been very much involved in his story so far.