NJC Spring Stakes winner Pierossa still has plenty to give
Pierossa is set to continue her rapid improvement when she comes back from her spell.
That was the message from the Peter & Paul Snowden stable after the three-year-old’s fighting victory in the NJC Spring Stakes over 1600m on Saturday.
The filly and jockey Sam Clipperton were made to work for the win, digging deep from seventh spot and 200m out to prevail at the line.
“She’ll most likely go to the paddock now and come back for the autumn with the leaps she’s made,” stable foreman Matthew McCudden told HorseBetting.com.au.
“She’s developed and she’ll come back stronger.”
It is great news for supporters of the filly, who did just enough to get the win on Saturday.
“She just seems to get it done. She’s an over-achiever,” McCudden said.
“She doesn’t look like she’s going to win, but she gets her head in front at the end.”
Indeed, Pierossa’s attitude is improving, with Paul Snowden explaining post-race that her mindset was poor not long ago.
Clipperton also mentioned how hard he’s had to work with her to eliminate her bad habits.
However, despite her struggle to put away her opponents as the $19 outsider in the Group 3 for three-year-olds on Saturday, Pierossa is certainly not short on natural talent.
“She’s quite a laidback customer and nothing bothers her. She sneaks under the radar a lot of the time,” McCudden said.
“She’s just a lovely animal.”
Meanwhile, the Snowdens are delighted with the recently completed preparation Mazu had, the still developing four-year-old picking up two seconds, a third and fifth.
The exciting sprinter ran in The Shorts, the Premiere Stakes, The Everest and the Nature Strip Stakes, finishing on the podium in those last two lucrative short-distance features.
It was the sort of end to his campaign which the Snowdens were hoping for, but also knew was possible.
“Huge prep. It was always going to be a prep targeted at the last two races – The Everest and the Nature Strip Stakes,” McCudden said.
“He’s in the paddock having a break now, and he’ll come back with a few runs over the autumn and again The Everest next year.”
McCudden cannot wait to see what Mazu can achieve on the track next spring.
“We’ve always been adamant in saying next year’s Everest is really the target, and whatever he did this year would just be a bonus,” he said.
“He was knocking on the door this year, so who knows where he could be next year.”