Grand Pierro happy to go punch for punch in the Victoria Derby
Jason Warren says his three-year-old Grand Pierro would happily go “punch for punch” with anyone who crosses him, and the tough gelding will also enjoy stepping up in Group 1 company.
That will happen in the $2 million Victoria Derby over 2500m at Flemington on Saturday when he takes on the likes of Spring Champion Stakes victor Sharp ’N’ Smart and Vase winner Berkeley Square.
“He’s a very tough little horse with his attitude. He’s a horse who doesn’t take any crap,” Warren told HorseBetting.com.au when asked about his last-start Geelong Classic winner over 2200m.
“He’s happy to go punch for punch with you if you were to get into an argument.
“He’s a bit tricky as far as having him ridden and trained.
“He’s a horse we always have to send out to the track with company, otherwise he’ll whip around and unload the track rider.”
Despite the fiery and combative mindset, Warren says his $26 outsider with Palmerbet has never been better prepared for what will be the biggest challenge of his young career.
“I’m really looking forward to it. I think the distance is going to be lovely for him,” he said.
“He’s a genuine stayer. His work has been solid and he’s in really good order.
“We go there off the back of a really good win at Geelong.”
With his apparent love of a challenge, Warren believes Grand Pierro will enjoy stepping up in a quality field, which also includes Caulfield Classic winner Mr Maestro.
“It can be viewed upon as almost going through the back door,” he said.
“The Spring Champion looked like a strong race and the Caulfield Classic with Mr Maestro winning – the jury could be out on that race.
“They all finished in a group.
“The Vase was a pretty strong race. You’ve got to respect Berkeley Square, but we couldn’t have our horse any better going into it.”
Warren said Grand Pierro had only shown improvement since his 1/5-length triumph in the Geelong Classic on October 19, his strong finish allowing him to beat Let’sRollTheDice at the line.
Danny O’Brien’s three-year-old colt has been scratched from Saturday’s staying feature race.
“His (Grand Pierro) work on Tuesday was very good and he’s come on from the Geelong win,” Warren said.
“I expect him to improve on what he did on that day.
“It was a very good ride (by Craig Williams), don’t get me wrong. But the way the horse ran through the line, we could’ve gone another 200m and it wouldn’t have worried him.”
Warren’s biggest worry is not the competition his developing stayer will be up against in the Victoria Derby – it will be the track conditions.
“The only concern for me is how bad this track is going to get. It’s a Heavy 9,” he said.
“But it will improve to the soft grades if they don’t have any more rain (on Friday).
“The only wet track (Grand Pierro has ran on) was at the Cranbourne trials (on August 9 last year) and he didn’t handle it.
“But that was over 800m. I’d expect him to get burnt over 800m anyway.
“He’s a build-up type of horse, so his trial over 800 was no real guide.”
By chance, Warren ended up with star jockey Mark Zahra, who will ride Grand Pierro on Saturday.
“He’s a big-race jockey. He doesn’t ride for my stable that much, but he does ride for me,” Warren said.
“Ben Melham rang for the ride. He rides a bit for me and lives in Mornington where I am.
“For some reason he took the Danny O’Brien horse and it was subsequently scratched.
“He’d be disappointed to be on the bench without a ride.”
Grand Pierro – a value $50,000 Inglis Premier purchase by Grand Syndicates – will be joined by stablemate La Gioia on Victoria Derby Day.
The three-year-old filly is a $101 outsider in the Wakeful Stakes over 2000m.
“He (Grand Pierro) is a very good-value buy. I’ve actually got another Pierro running in the Wakeful,” Warren said.
“She was a ($300,000) purchase. She’s part-owned by Rosemont Stud.
“And she’ll run a lot better than her price suggests, too.
“Really looking forward to the day.”
With his stable staff still on a high after Warren’s second Geelong Classic triumph in three years (Confrontational won the 2020 event with Dean Krongold the co-trainer), the Tuerong-based conditioner reserved praise for their efforts in recent years.
“It’s a big effort. We’ve gone through a really tough period with COVID and we seem to be short-staffed from time to time,” he said.
“But everyone has pulled together and they’re doing a good job.
“We’ve got some nice horses going into the weekend.”