Pierro confirms status as champion juvenile with Slipper triumph

Unbeaten Lonhro colt Pierro confirmed his status as Australia's champion juvenile with a brilliant win in today's $3,5 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill, reports www.breednet.com.au.It says: Perfectly ridden from the inside barrier by Nash Rawiller, Pierro stalked the leaders throughout before reeling in the leader Snitzerland and scoring a widening long neck margin.One of five runners in the race for champion trainer Gai Waterhouse - Pierro provided her with a fourth success in

Unbeaten Lonhro colt Pierro confirmed his status as Australia's champion juvenile with a brilliant win in today's $3,5 million Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill, reports www.breednet.com.au.

It says: Perfectly ridden from the inside barrier by Nash Rawiller, Pierro stalked the leaders throughout before reeling in the leader Snitzerland and scoring a widening long neck margin.

One of five runners in the race for champion trainer Gai Waterhouse - Pierro provided her with a fourth success in the world's richest two-year-old race.

"He is a dominant colt," the Hall of Fame horsewoman beamed. "I was very surprised that he was not the favourite for the Slipper. "The filly shot to the front and it just took his tenacity to run her down. He is such a gutsy horse."

Waterhouse said she would now look toward the other two legs of the two-year-old triple crown with her latest champion.

"I'm going to enjoy today and I'll worry about that tomorrow," she said of Pierro's future goals.

As well as Waterhouse, Pierro has been held in high regard for his career by regular rider Nash Rawiller.

"He was outstanding," Rawiller said after the race. "He made his own luck today. He came out well and it went through my mind to lead. I could see Jimmy coming across putting a bit more presure on. I just wanted to sit there as long as I could and wait for it to happen.

"Corey (Brown, rider of runner-up Snitzerland) rolled off a few and it ws just game over then. I knew that if it came to a bit of a dogfight he would be too good. He is just such a talented colt."