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Warwick Farm-trained stars Pierata and Castelvecchio have returned to their stables to begin their spring preparations.
Pierata’s trainer Greg Hickman has issued an encouraging update on his crack sprinter, who was spelled after recording his first Group One win in the All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in April.
Stud plans have been deferred for Pierata after he was the first horse locked into a slot for the $14 million Everest at Randwick in October.
Aquis Farm secured the stud rights to Pierata but decided to delay the start of his stud career until the 2020 breeding season, mindful of the worth an Everest win would mean to his stud value.
Hickman wil use trials to gauge Pierfata’s progress and may give the sprinter only one start leading into the Everest over 1200m on October 19.
Trainer Richard Litt has the G1 Champagne Stakes winner Castelvecchio back from his spell with a range of options open to the rising three-year-old in the spring.
“He’s matured, he’s put on a lot of condition,” Litt reported.
“He’s an absolute complete athlete. We’ll get him to the trials and he should be ready for the Run To The Rose.
“There are just so many races he could run in. Obviously the main ones are the Run To The Roses, the Golden Rose, the Caulfield Guineas and the Cox Plate.
“The Cox Plate is enticing but I wouldn’t be going there unless I thought I could win.
“There’s also the new Bondi race that’s worth $1 million over a mile at Randwick and we know how well he runs that mile.
“We just want to make sure he’s come back fit and healthy and see him trial and then work it out from there.”