Kiwi Group One winner Pier will not feature in this year’s Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m), but he will still have the opportunity to run for a A$5 million stake back in Sydney.
After a successful campaign in Queensland through the winter, Pier was set on a path towards the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) and got off to a flying start when placing in the Gr.2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m).
He was among the main dangers to hot-favourite Autumn Glow in last Saturday’s Epsom, where he ran a respectable fifth.
“His effort was better than it looked, it wasn’t a bad run by any means,” said Darryn Weatherley, who trains in partnership with his daughter Briar.
“The occasion got to him a little bit to be fair, when we saddled him at Rosehill for the Theo Marks he was good, but the three weeks in between and being at Randwick for the first time, he was very agitated saddling up.
“He got really hot in the Theatre of the Horse and dislodged Ethan Brown (jockey) when he got on him, so he had a bit of a race before he got to the start.
“Ethan rode him beautifully, but he did ride him a little bit to take the edge off the favourite (Autumn Glow) early, keeping her three-wide. It was good piloting, but I think we were one run away from having such a hard mile.
“When the pace came out of the race at the 800, he was up and running through the bridle, then he came off Autumn Glow’s heels before the turn and got on the wrong leg but still had the audacity to fight on for fifth.
“We got a nice enough paycheck for that being such a prestigious race.”
Pier’s ownership group, which includes the Weatherleys and prominent Australian owner Ozzie Kheir, opted to pay the late entry fee into the Cox Plate in early September, but he was withdrawn from the nominations in favour of the Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m), run at Randwick on Everest Day (October 18).
“He was in there (Cox Plate) because if you’re not in there, you can’t run, but it was all down to Saturday,” Weatherley said.
“I just feel another mile will be more suitable than going the 2040m at Moonee Valley, and he’s also stabled in Sydney at the present time, so it would be a big trip to go into a high pressure race.
“I feel the run has improved him so his next run will be in the King Charles. I know it’ll be a very strong field, but I think we’ll have a better horse on the day and we’ll chance our luck.
“He’s ticking all the boxes, I’ve never seen him look so good and had him feel so good. I just hope next Saturday week that with his freshness taken off him, his manners are a bit better and he can be competitive.
“If he gets some of the chocolates in a A$5 million race, it’s certainly well worth being there.”
Pier is currently rated a $15 hope in the King Charles, in a market headed by glamour mares Pride Of Jenni ($3.50) and Fangirl ($3.60). – LOVERCAING.NZ News Desk
