Australia's leading second season sire Pierro already has an Oaks winner in Pinot and Kris Lees, believes he may just have a Derby winner there as well.
For Kris Lees, the questions have been answered and he heads into Saturday's Australian Derby significantly more confident trainer with his charge Furore.
Lees said the pressure is off after his lightly-raced Pierro gelding showed he's up to the top staying three-year-olds in the Rosehill Guineas a fortnight ago, elevated to third after successfully protesting against the second horse past the post, Vin De Dance.
Furore stepped up sharply in class and came out of the set weights contest, one of the leading contenders for the $2 million Group I AustralianDerby(2400m) atRandwick on Saturday.
"I was pretty guarded going into theRosehill Guineas," Lees said.
"He was going from a provincial benchmark 71 race to a Group I set weights contest but he came out of that showing he's up to them.
"He acquitted himself well and you could make a case to say he should have been a fair bit closer to the winner too."
Furore is the $7.50 second favourite for Saturday's upcoming blue-riband and Lees says the "laid-back character" has continues to please heading into his sixth race start in his first racing campaign.
"He's continued to train on," he said.
"Being in his first prep, you always tend to worry about that but he's not showing any signs that he's had enough.
"He's always been a very easy horse to do anything with and I think because he's so laid back in his attitude, it's helped him get as far as he has this preparation.
"I think it's a very open Derby but I think he's done enough to be considered a live chance."
