John O'Shea has resisted the temptation to tackle stakes races with the 4-year-old gelding Pizarro, but there could be a nice race over the Spring Carnival for the progressive son of All Too Hard.
Closing out a champagne day's racing at Randwick on Saturday, Pizarro staged a last-to-first performance in the Darwin Turf Club Hcp (1200m).
Lumping 58kgs, Pizarro scythed between runners in the straight under Hugh Bowman to defeat the consistent Street Boss (USA) mare Arbitration by a widening one and a half lengths while conceding her 4.5kgs.
Never off the board in eight starts, Pizarro advances his record to three wins, four seconds, and a third with prizemoney of $292,225.
The strapping chestnut tended to over-race early in his career but has learned to settle and finish his races off.
Purchased by Champion Thoroughbreds / John O'Shea Racing for $150,000 from the Vinery Stud draft at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Pizarro is a half-brother to Group III VRC The Vanity and Listed SAJC Morphettville Guineas winner Bonvicini (Myboycharlie).
Bred by Greg Perry, who has retained a share in his ownership, Pizarro is the second foal of the Testa Rossa mare Orvieto who started five times for two wins at Geelong and one at Kyneton and was third at Caulfield.
Out of the stakes-placed Unbridled's Song (USA) mare Radio Song, who was a $220,000 purchase for Cliff Brown at the 2012 Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Orvieto has a 3yo filly by Dundeel and a 2yo filly by Toronado (IRE). She was covered by Toronado (IRE) again last spring after missing to an earlier cover by Frosted (USA).
