Golden Slipper winner Pierro went very close to a Group I double on Saturday with his quality three year-old Shadow Hero capturing the Group I ATC Randwick Guineas (1600m), while talented Perth trained four year-old Regal Power was beaten half a length in the Group I VRC Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington.
Raised and sold by Newgate Farm, the Mark Newnham-trained Shadow Hero won the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes in the spring and was fifth in the Group I VRC Victoria Derby.
Having his second run back from a spell, Shadow Hero appreciated a return to Randwick, powering home from midfield to win running away by three-quarters of a length.
Purchased by Sweetbriar Equine for $260,000 out of the Newgate Farm draft at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Shadow Hero was bred by Greg and Donna Kolivos, who raced his sire Pierro.
He has put together an impressive record with four wins and two placings from nine starts with earnings in excess of $1.4million.
"I am so excited. I've got a lot of history with this horse and other runners and I stuck with this horse and this stable, they stuck with me and here we are," said winning rider Josh Parr, who also partnered Shadow Hero to victory in the Spring Champion Stakes.
"These are the moments we all work for. We had a plan going into this race how we would attack it and it come off inch-perfect."
Shadow Hero will head next towards the Group I ATC Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and then the Group I ATC Australian Derby (2400m) in preference to the Group I ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at WFA.
"It's been the plan all along so I don't see any reason to change," said Mark Newnham.
"He can come back for a QE next year. He's a gelding, he's here to race and I've got no worries about him staying the (Derby) trip.
"He reminds me so much of his father, he just pins his ears back and wants to win."
Shadow Hero is the second foal and second winner out of Group III winner Sookie, a grand-daughter of Champion 2YO Filly Victory Vein by Casino Prince. Sookie has a yearling filly by Pierro to follow that will be offered at Inglis Easter next month as Lot 215 by Newgate Farm as agent for Lightning Thoroughbreds.
Shadow Hero is one of seven stakes-winners for this season Pierro, whose offspring have won over $10million in prizemoney since August 1.
