Is This Pierro's Next Derby Winner?

Tara Madgwick - Thursday November 28

Golden Slipper winner Pierro has established himself as a premium source of classic horses and may well have another Derby winner in the pipeline in New Zealand.

Lance O'Sullivan has gone close to winning the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) in his time training, five-times producing three-year-olds to finish in the top five.

Dragon's Leap - image Trish DunnellThe Matamata trainer reels off a list of high-class performers to have run well recently for the stable in the Ellerslie showpiece, with 2010 runner-up Corporal Jones heading the list.

But despite the quality of those that have gone before, O'Sullivan says none have had superior potential to his leading candidate for this year's Derby, Dragon Leap.

The Pierro gelding created a big impression with a dazzling debut win at Te Rapa and he goes into Saturday's Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m) as the TAB's $3.60 favourite at just his second start.

"What he did at Te Rapa didn't surprise us," said O'Sullivan, who trains in partnership with Andrew Scott.

"He's just a real professional. He's a very laid-back horse. He does what he does in his work. He eats and he sleeps and nothing fazes him.

"He's bred to run a trip but before we start talking about a Derby, you have to realise he's only just won a maiden race and we can't get too far ahead of ourselves.

"But he is a big horse that looks like he'll stay and he's got a very good brain on him. He works well on his own or with a mate. He just does whatever you ask of him and adapts very quickly."

Advertisement

Dragon Leap will start from barrier four on Saturday with rider Craig Grylls set to be told to ride him where he lands with a view to giving him a good experience around Ellerslie for the first time.

"It's a big step up but the reason we're going there is we've got to get him used to Ellerslie," O'Sullivan said.

"If he's going to run a Derby there, we'd like him to know the track. It's never easy for an inexperienced horse going to Ellerslie because it can trip horses up."

O'Sullivan has no set plans for Dragon Leap after the Trevor Eagle Memorial, happy to assess his run before deciding on his next step towards the Derby based on how he performs.

TAB bookmakers have Dragon Leap as a joint $10 second favourite for the $1 million New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on February 29 behind this month's Gr.1 2000 Guineas (1600m) runner-up Harlech at $6.

Dragon Leap has already continued a winning sequence for Wexford Stables under O'Sullivan's guidance and owners Hermitage Thoroughbreds following the likes of Group One winners Summer Passage and Willie Cazals, Spring Heat and Cha Siu Bao.

Cha Siu Bao and last-start maiden winner Highlighter will race on the undercard at Ellerslie on Saturday, while Spring Heat, a sizzling 1:08.95 1200m sprint winner at Ellerslie earlier this month, is preparing for the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) at the track on New Year's Day. - NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Countdown to NZB’s 2025 Weanling Sale
The countdown to NZB’s 2025 National Weanling Sale is underway, with a compact yet quality catalogue of 134 youngsters, plus 10 supplementary lots, selling this Thursday 26 June at Karaka. 
Waikato Stud Weanling Draft Showcases Super Stallions
After a phenomenal few months for Waikato Stud’s stallion roster, the world-renowned nursery will offer six select progeny of those high-flying sires at this week’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka.
Nicks That Click – One of the Best
Two of Australia’s biggest farms in Arrowfield and Coolmore have very different stallion rosters, but in the instance of this nick they have created a match made in heaven.
$900,000 Pierro Colt Bred on Magic Cross Leads the Way
Waikato bloodstock agent Garry Carvell went home with the horse he wanted on the first day of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.
Aussie Bred HK G3 Double
A pair of Group III races were run at Sha Tin on Sunday with victory in the two last stakes races of the HK season both going to Aussie bred geldings Beauty Joy and Copartner Prance, who is a half-brother to Aquis based sire Kobayashi.
$550,000 Pierro Filly Brings Joy to Queenslanders
Coolmore’s Golden Slipper winner Pierro is currently the leading sire in the country by earnings and stakes-winners, but has been somewhat flying under the radar at Magic Millions with a filly from Phoenix Park selling on Friday for $550,000.
Best On Breeding
Group 1 action with the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington where the 'favourite for everything in 2020' Russian Camelot will have the red carpet rolled out, with other highlights being the return of Farnan in a fascinating Group II  Run to the Rose Stakes at Rosehill, and with stakes action and million-dollar babies galore, just buckle up for another magnificent day of racing aroun
Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury
There were a whopping 10 heats won by juveniles at the Canterbury trials on Monday morning that included some interesting unraced youngsters by Zoustar, Zousain and Trapeze Artist, plus a good looking youngster that may see the benefit of gelding.
Pierro’s $1 Million Son Dragon Leap Stakes His Claim for the NZ Derby
Talented three-year-old Dragon Leap (Pierro) stamped his Derby credentials with his winning effort in the Group II Jamieson Park Auckland Guineas (1600m) at Ellerslie on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 22
Here is the full list of 76 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.