Pierro dazzles on return

Last season's Champion Juvenile Pierro made a stunning return to competition with a dominant victory in the G3 Run To the Rose at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Ridden forward to race in second place, Pierro loomed large turning into the home stretch and then accelerated away to win comfortably by one and a quarter lengths and extend his winning streak to seven.

The unbeaten son of Lonhro stopped the clock at 1:09.86 for the 1200m and had his trainer heaping superlatives afterwards. "You’ve just seen an outstanding, outstanding colt. He’s Australasia’s best colt by so far it’s not funny. Today was his biggest test because I had a slightly lesser time to get him ready and I thought I’m not going to start him until I get him ready – absolutely wiped the floor with them.”

Pierro's main spring aims are the GI Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in October 13 and the GI W S Cox Plate (2040m) on October 27.

Bred by Darley, Pierro is out of the Daylami mare Miss Right Note, a half-sister to Octagonal’s French G1-winning son Laverock. Miss Right Note foaled a sister to Pierro in 2011 before being covered by Street Cry during the last breeding season.

Lonhro stood for $30,000 at Darley USA in 2012.