11 Stakes Winners for PIERRO as OCTABELLO wins the Cranbourne Cup

14 Oct 18

A big weekend for terrific young sire PIERRO with 3 Stakes Winners.

Fresh off a stakes winning double at Randwick on Saturday, PIERRO was at it again in Victoria on Sunday when his son OCTABELLO aided by a perfectly-timed ride from Noel Callow saw the Mick Price-trained gelding win the $350,000 Listed TAB Cranbourne Cup (2025m).

Capping the win with a star jump on the dismount, Callow was able to produce the Pierro gelding at the right time in the straight to nab Sully ($11) and hold out odds-on favourite Furrion ($1.80).

It was with Furrion, ridden by Jye McNeil, who Octabello had to fight for some room in the final two furlongs, but Callow was able to find the room he needed to punch out a victory in the feature.

"He lived up to his name there, King Callow," Price's stable rep Mick Nolan said post race. Nolan added: "I think only Noel Callow would've won on that horse."

Trainer Mick Price has been proven correct with his decision to tackle the Listed Cranbourne Cup with Octabello. Callow suggested to Price a benchmark 78 race at Caulfield on Wednesday would have been an ideal race for Octabello, but Price elected to tackle Sunday's Cup and walked away with the majority of $350,000 prize money.

Octabello came into the race the clear bottom-rated horse in the field with a 72 handicap rating, giving 22 benchmark ratings points to the likes of Guardini and Sully at the level minimum weight.

"He was desperately unlucky the other day and if I had my way I wanted him to run at Caulfield on Wednesday," Callow told broadcaster racing.com.

"But Mick said 'no, it's a nice little race for him'.

"He had a beautiful run behind the favourite and all I needed was something to happen, but it didn't, so I made something happen and got the chocolates."

Octabello more than tripled his career earnings with the $210,000 winner's cheque, taking his career record to four wins from 13 starts for $306,750.

Earlier this year Dynamic Syndications offered a wonderful Pierro Colt from the Group 1 placed Danehill mare Confer which is being raced in co-ownership with Gerry Harvey.

Pierro x Confer Colt

That colt is Sold Out and promises a lot of fun for his Ownership Team.