Group placed as a three year-old, talented Pierro gelding Les Vampire has blossomed this season at four and claimed his first stakes victory when scoring a bold victory in the $300,000 Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) on Saturday.
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Les Vampires was a well backed favourite after a strong last start win at Randwick and carried that good form forward in his first try at a staying trip.
Well rated in front by Winona Costin, Les Vampires led for home and was not for catching, kicking on strongly to win by more than a length in a race that has Big Dance eligibility for the winner.
With five wins and three placings from 13 starts and prizemoney topping $530,000, Les Vampires has a myriad of options going forward now he has proven himself over a longer trip, although the lure of the $3million Big Dance in November will be hard to resist.
"I'm not sure how far we want to go now. We've got the ticket to the Big Dance and he is pretty deep into the campaign so we'll be working back from having that feature somewhere in his program next time in," said Adrian Bott.
"We've seen he can be effective early in the campaign, sharp over that trip and I think he'd be well placed in a race like that. Importantly, he's qualified and there is some big money on offer so it's got to be under consideration."
A $200,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Coolmore draft, Les Vampires is a full brother to multiple Group winner and Golden Slipper place-getter Tulip and half-brother to Group III winner Sacred Eye being the third stakes-winner among seven winners from nine to race from Group III winning Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) mare Musidora.
A full sister to Les Vampires, unraced two year-old filly Villainess will be offered at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in the Newgate Consignment as Lot 499. She is the last foal of Musidora, who has been retired from stud duties.
Les Vampires is the 39th stakes-winner for Pierro, who is priced to please this spring at an affordable $33,000 at Coolmore.
