NZ raider Pier can upset favourite in Hobartville Stakes
If Pier was a human being, you would want him at your party because of his relaxed and lovable nature.
This is why his New Zealand trainer Darryn Weatherley believes he will be up to the challenge of competing well at Group 2 level in the Hobartville Stakes for three-year-olds at Rosehill on Saturday.
Even after a rough flight from across the ditch where he lost 10kg, the talented gelding is doing well physically and mentally ahead of the 1400m sprint worth $400,000.
“You’d like to have 10 of him – he’s such a laid-back character,” Weatherley told HorseBetting.com.au.
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“He’s like a pet labrador – you can follow him anywhere.
“If he was allowed in, he’d be standing right beside me at the pub.
“He’s a real laid-back guy and he’s easy to have around. That makes the job a bit easier.”
It was this attitude which got Pier through a taxing flight over to Sydney.
The three-year-old has been enjoying his feeds after shedding some weight on a warm transit across the Tasman Sea.
“I’m really happy with him. He travelled well,” Weatherley said.
“With the flight over and the heat, he lost a little bit of weight.
“It was 10kg, and 10kg in a horse is probably not a lot.
“He’s regained 5kg, so he’s probably 5kg under what I’d prefer. But he looks really well.
“He’s eating well which is a big thing, and he’s drinking well.”
Pier is a $14 winning chance across betting sites for the Hobartville Stakes, and it could be good value for punters behind $1.45 favourite Aft Cabin for James Cummings’ Godolphin stable.
It will be the short-distance New Zealand star’s second run back after finishing third at Pukekohe in the Group 3 Almanzor Trophy over 1200m on January 21.
But he was boxed out on the straight and did well to finish where he did.
Last preparation, Pier recorded brilliant victories in the NZ 2000 Guineas and Hawke’s Bay Guineas, at Group 1 and 2 level respectively.
“I was far from disappointed (with his last start). It was a Group race, so it would have been super to win it,” Weatherley said.
“But we were there just to see if he was worthy of putting on the plane.
“And when you look at the run he carried top weight at 60kg.
“He was stuck down in the worst of it and got stopped at a bad time.
“He had to pick himself off the canvas and go again.
“There was a heap of merit in the run.”
Weatherley’s son Sam will ride Pier from barrier six on Saturday.
“I’m really happy with the draw we’ve got. He’s basically drawn midfield,” the Matamata conditioner said.
“That gives Sam a few options – he can watch the pattern of racing and see whether the fence is on or off.
“We’ve got options. He likes to be one off and be in a good position turning for home.
“He’s got an electrifying sprint and he’s going to need it to keep up with Aft Cabin.”
Weatherley has plenty of respect for Aft Cabin, who comfortably won the Eskimo Prince Stakes by 1 ¾ lengths at Randwick on February 4.
But he also believes his short-distance runner can compete with him.
“He (Aft Cabin) is a big, strong horse and he’s got tons of ability. But there’s not much wrong with our little guy, either,” the New Zealand trainer said.
If Pier runs well on Saturday, the Weatherleys – including Darryn’s daughter and assistant Briar – will stay in Australia and contest more Group races with their young talent.
But they are not getting too carried away with that thought just yet.
“We’ll just take it one race at a time,” Weatherley said.
“Saturday will be our benchmark, and if we get a bloodied nose we’ll just go home with our tails between our legs.
“But if we keep up and look like we’re competitive, I do think the 2000 wouldn’t be out of his reach.”
If Pier finishes in the top three on Saturday, Weatherley said it would be a special family moment for him, Sam and Briar.
“And we breed them (horses), so it’s all very special. It’d be a big thrill if his number comes up in the frame,” he said.
“We’d be very pleased and it’d be a big thrill in our careers.”