It was a case of second time's a charm for well-bred filly Pierro Belle (Pierro {Aus}), who broke her maiden in some style at Wodonga on Monday.
Pierro Belle's first trip to the races at Flemington back in February for the Listed Asian Executive H. was an unmitigated disaster.
The filly had been sensationally backed for the race as well as for the G1 Blue Diamond S. off a big trial win at Morphettville for trainer Tony McEvoy.
But after an alarming late betting drift. things went awry as soon as the gates opened as she refused to stretch out and was reported lame on the post-race Stewards Report. Her 2-year-old campaign was abandoned.
There was no such drama at start No.2 as jockey Luke Currie sat Pierro Belle just off the pace in the 1100m maiden before she pounced to win comfortably by 2.25l.
"That was good, she’ll have a good experience from that," stable representative Michael Shepherdson said after the win. "She’ll have a bit to learn from that."
"Tony has got some nice races in mind for her. The experience will be great for her and her confidence."
Pierro Belle holds an entry for both the G1 Thousand Guineas and the G1 Caulfield Guineas on October 13.
A $300,000 purchase from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2017 Easter Sales, Pierro Belle is the second winner from black-type winner Pane in the Glass (Testa Rossa {Aus}), who was twice placed at Group 1 level.
Pierro Belle
Pierro Belle's older half-sister Roomooz (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was a $450,000 yearling purchase and recently retired with two wins from seven starts, while her younger half-sister by Deep Field (Aus), called Xilong, sold to McEvoy Mitchell Racing for $360,000 at this year's Easter Sales.
Another winner from a stakes-winning mare on Monday was Sent From Above (Lonhro {Aus)) in the first race at Wellington.
The four-year-old mare, raced by Gooree Stud, broke her maiden in some style, winning by over three lengths for trainer Mack Griffith.
She is out of the multiple stakes-winner Gamble Me (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}, who was also raced by Gooree, becoming her third winner from five foals to race.
