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A brilliant performance by class sprinter Pierata was the highlight of a stakes double for outstanding young sire Pierro at Randwick on Saturday.
After the 3YO filly I Like it Easy (Pierro x Gai’s Choice, by General Nediym) recorded her first black type success in the Listed Reginald Allen Stakes Pierata (Pierro x November Flight by Flying Spur) returned to top form with a blazing win in the G3 Sydney Stakes.
The Greg Hickman-trained Pierata was coming back in distance after finishing ninth in the G1 Epsom Handicap over 1600 metres on September 29 and showed he would have been a real force to reckon with in the $13 million Everest when he bolted away with the race programmed as a consolation for horses missing a start in the big dance.
His time of 1.10.82 seconds was significantly faster than Redzel ran (1.12.03) winning the Everest some 45 minutes later.Hickman was philosophical about Pierata not gaining a slot in The Everest. He said there had been discussions but no parties could reach an agreement.
Pierata was a $160,000 Magic Millions purchase by Hickman at the Gold Coast in 2016 and races for a big syndicate of some 20 owners. His imposing record now stands at six wins and five placings from 14 starts with prizemoney in excess of $2.6 million.Pierata was bred by Hobartville Stud and is a half-brother to three winners including the G3 winner Ashokan from the G3 winning Flying Spur mare November Flight.
She has a yearling colt by Rubick and is again due to foal to Pierro.Golden Slipper winner Pierro is the reigning champion Australian second season sire with his first two crops featuring a remarkable range of quality performers including the G1 classic winners Levendi and Pinot among 11 stakes winners.
The Gerald Ryan-trained I Like It Easy is a homebred for owner Bert Vieira and was resuming from a spell in her 1400m fillies contest.The win was a boost for Vieira as his wife Gai Vieira was critically injured in a car crash in September when hit by a police car involved in a high speed chase of another driver.
I Like it Easy is the first winner for stakes-winning General Nediym mare Gai’s Choice, named after Viera’s wife and a seven time winner for the family.She is a half-sister to stakes-winners Atmospherical and Peron and has a yearling filly by Vancouver. She as among 192 mares covered by Pierro last spring.
Pierro capped a successful weekend with a third stakes-winner on Sunday when Octabello (Pierro x Charlotte de Belle by Secret Savings) took out the Listed Cranbourne Cup.It was the fourth win from 13 starts for Octabello, who has earned over $300,000 in prizemoney.
A $190,000 yearling, Octabello is the third winner for here dam Charlotte de Belle, a full sister to dual G1 winner and sire Dash For Cash.Octabello is the 11th stakes-winner for Pierro.