Following his pleasing third placing in last Saturday’s A$5 million Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) at Randwick, trainers Darryn and Briar Weatherley have decided to head south with Pier (NZ) (Proisir) to test his talent in Melbourne.
The Group One winner has been a model of consistency since he landed in Australia in May, placing in the Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) before winning the Listed The Wayne Wilson (1600m) in Brisbane.
Following a spell he then ventured south to Sydney where he placed in the Gr.2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) first-up before running fifth in the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m), but Darryn Weatherley said he was too highly strung that day, which affected his performance.
“His behaviour on the day in the Epsom, he was a little bit on the toe and he was quite agitated,” Weatherley said.
The Matamata horseman said his gelding was the polar opposite heading into the King Charles.
“With the two-week back-up into the King Charles, it just worked perfectly, he was a different horse altogether,” Weatherley said.
“He was in a better frame of mind and he paraded like a Group One horse, whereas in the Epsom he was a little hot under the tail and he dislodged Ethan Brown when he got on him. He kind of had a run before the race, whereas the other day at Randwick, even though there was a 50,000-strong crowd and there was a lot of atmosphere, he was right in the zone and raced accordingly.”
Pier proved himself more than capable in the star-studded line-up and beat some class animals to snare third place.
“I was stoked, I couldn’t have been happier,” Weatherley said. “It was the best of the best with Pride of Jenni, Fangirl, Mr Brightside and Ceolwulf, who won it last year and this year.
“He was up against it, but we are very proud to see that he wasn’t out of his league at all and he is well and truly up to it, so that was cool.”
Weatherley said Pier has come through the race in fine fettle and they have now set their sights further south to Melbourne, where they are eyeing a couple of elite-level targets at Flemington on Champions Stakes Day.
“He appears to have pulled up very well from the race on Saturday and he is booked to go on a float to Melbourne next Tuesday,” Weatherley said.
He is weighing up between the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) and Gr.1 Champions Stakes (2000m), with the latter’s extra distance proving more alluring to Weatherley.
“We will probably nominate for both races and see what one looks more suitable,” he said. “At this stage, I am leaning toward the 2000m race.
“The other day he was headed halfway up the straight by Pericles and we thought he was going to run fifth and then he fought back to run third. Ethan Brown got off and said he is screaming out for 2000m, and he can’t wait until he gets that far.”
Meanwhile, Weatherley has arrived back in New Zealand to watch the stable’s promising three-year-old Bulgari (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) contest The George Abernethy & Associates 1150 at Te Aroha on Wednesday.
The son of Hello Youmzain colt won on debut as a juvenile, but has failed to fire in his two starts this preparation, running sixth in both the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) and Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m).
“Bulgari was a bit of a headscratcher at Te Rapa, I thought he would go a better race,” Weatherley said. “He was ridden beautifully by Sam (Weatherley) in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas, the gap presented itself at the top of the straight and he went to poke his head through and never finished it off.
“We were scratching our heads as to whether he is just a sprinter or perhaps the heavy track got to him. Tomorrow will be a wait and see. Looking at the Hello Youmzain’s, they might just be sprinters. I am hoping the 1150m tomorrow he will turn his form around.
“I am really happy with the condition of the horse, he looks fantastic. I got back from Australia yesterday and I worked with him this morning. I was on Mali Ston and worked along beside him and he is very bright in himself, his coat looks fantastic, and I am looking forward to a bold showing.”