Triple Crown to Pierro

Having already won the first two legs of the two-year-old Triple Crown, the G1 Golden Slipper and G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes, both in impressive fashion, Lonhro colt Pierro started a short-priced favourite in the third leg, the G1 Champagne Stakes over 1600m at Randwick on April 28.

A class above his rivals, the imposing colt strode away with a facile victory, taking the race by two-and-three-quarter lengths from Dear Demi, with a further two-and-a-quarter lengths to Tatra.

Becoming only the fourth colt in history to win the two-year-old Triple Crown, and the second since Baguette in 1970 to win the race undefeated, Pierro has assured himself the Champion two-year-old title this season.

With trainer Gai Waterhouse summing up Pierro’s victory in one word, “Outstanding”, it was only fitting that jockey Nash Rawiller followed suit, declaring Pierro’s performance as simply “Arrogant”.

Out of the Daylami mare Miss Right Note, a half-sister to Octagonal’s French G1-winning son Laverock, Pierro was bred by Darley. Miss Right Note foaled a full-sister to Pierro in 2011 before being covered by Street Cry during the last breeding season.

Providing back to back winners of the Triple Crown after the victory of Elusive Quality colt Sepoy in last year’s G1 Golden Slipper and the wins of Exceed And Excel colt Helmet in the G1 Sires’ Produce and Champagne Stakes, the Darley roster in Australia has enjoyed a stellar twelve months, producing 14 individual G1 winners of 19 G1 races.

Standing the forthcoming season at Darley Kelvinside at a fee of $110,000 (inc GST), Lonhro is set to be crowned the Champion two-year-old sire this season, adding to his Champion Sire crowning of last season.

The sire G1-winning colts Denman and Benfica, who will both stand alongside their sire at Kelvinside at fees of $33,000 (inc GST) and $11,000 (inc GST) respectively, Lonhro’s 32 Stakes winners include G1-winning mare Beaded, as well as G2 winners included Pinwheel, Obsequious, O’Lonhro and Parables.