Pierro Sires 10th Stakes Winner in a Stakes Double at Randwick

14 Oct 18

Golden Slipper winning sire Pierro posted his 10th Stakes Winner and recorded a stakes double at Randwick on Saturday with initial Black Type success for I Like it Easy in the Reginald Allen 1400m LR and further Stakes success for top class stallion prospect Pierata.

Tenth Stakes-Winner for Pierro in Listed Reginald Allen

The colours of last season's champion three year-old colt Trapeze Artist were carried to victory in the Listed ATC Reginald Allen Stakes at Randwick on Saturday by progressive filly I Like It Easy.

A homebred for Bert Vieira and prepared by Gerald Ryan, I Like It Easy showed ability in her first preparation with a win at Warwick Farm and a second to top class colt Graff and was resuming from a spell in this 1400 metre contest.

With three trials under her belt she was fit for the challenge and made light of the heavy ground to lead all the way and win by a half neck, pulling out plenty of courage under pressure for Tim Clark.

It was a great result for the Vieira family, who have faced personal tragedy recently with Bert Vieira’s wife Gai critically injured in a car crash in Cronulla in early September involving a high speed chase of another driver by a highway patrol car that ended in disaster.

Mr Vieira was at the races and surrounded by friends and family as I Like it Easy returned to scale.

"It's been tough, but we're happy to be here," Bert Vieira said.

"That horse is from a mare named Gai's Choice, it was named after her and for it to win on a day like today is just amazing. We're very proud and excited to be here with my family, it wasn't 'I Like it Easy'… but she did alright!"

I Like it Easy is the first winner for stakes-winning General Nediym mare Gai's Choice, who was raced with great success by the Vieira family winning seven races and over $400,000 in prizemoney.

A half-sister to stakes-winners Atmospherical and Peron, Gai's Choice has a yearling filly by Vancouver and was one of 192 mares covered by Pierro last spring.

I Like It Easy became the tenth stakes-winner for Golden Slipper winner Pierro, who stands at Coolmore at a fee of $88,000 this spring.

Group 3 Sydney Stakes to Pierata

Pierata returned to form in the Group 3 ATC Sydney Stakes running faster time than they clocked in the Everest.

Prepared by Greg Hickman, Pierata was freshened up after finishing ninth in the Group 1 ATC Epsom Handicap over 1600 metres.

Fitted with blinkers and back in trip to 1200 metres, Pierata was explosive on the heavy ground, bolting clear to win by two and three quarter lengths.

His time of 1.10.82 seconds was significantly faster than Redzel ran (1.12.03 seconds) in winning the $13 million Everest in the next race.
Winning rider Tommy Berry felt he had the race won a long way from home.

"I knew I was going to win around the corner because he dipped quite badly just before the bend," he said.

"Usually when they do that and aren't handling it they drop the bit. He picked it straight up, got on with the job and made it look too easy for me."

Greg Hickman was philosophical about Pierata not gaining a slot in The Everest.

He said there had been discussions but no parties could reach an agreement.

"It's all to do with the contracts ... and whether it suits you," Hickman said.

"The main thing is the horse has got back and he's run really well."

A Magic Millions purchase Pierata has the imposing record of six wins and five placings from 14 starts with prizemoney in excess of $2.6 million.

Pierata is a half-brother to Group 3 winning 2yo Ashokan. He is the fourth winner from Group 3 winning Flying Spur mare November Flight, who has a yearling colt by Rubick and will foal again this spring to Pierata's sire Pierro.

Pierro

The reigning Champion Australian Second Season Sire, Golden Slipper winner Pierro has shown himself to be a remarkable source of quality performers, not just classic horses like his Derby hero Levendi and Oaks queen Pinot, but also a genuinely top class sprinter miler like Pierata.

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.