Hierro hard to beat in G3 The Cliff's Edge Derby Trial Stakes

Hard Spun's three-year-old son Hierro proved the one to beat April 28 in the G3 The Cliff's Edge Derby Trial Stakes at Churchill Downs, USA, on April 28. The colt is the second Graded/Group winner and 13th Graded/Group horse for Hard Spun.

The Stonestreet Stables-owned colt found his spot off the lead with a quick pace ahead of him. Into the stretch of the one mile race he began to enjoy the sloppy track and rallied to a tremendous win for trainer Steve Asmussen.

A US$350,000 two-year-old purchase, Hierro was bred by Sally Anderson. Out of the Graded-placed Navarone mare Brief Bliss, the colt is a half-brother to Stakes winner and Graded Stakes-placed runner Cherokee Triangle as well as Stakes-placed Sam's Bliss.

Hierro joins G2 Superlative Stakes winner Red Duke among Hard Spun's Graded/Group winners from his first crop of runners. A son of Danzig, Hard Spun is also the sire of Stakes winner and G1-placed Hard Not To Like, among numerous other black-type horses. Hierro is the second Stakes winner for the sire in one day, as his daughter Hard Mystery took Belmont's Inside Information Stakes at Belmont as well on April 28.

Hard Spun will stand the forthcoming southern hemisphere season at Darley's Northwood Park at a fee of $16,500 (inc. GST).