A few short weeks after throwing everything away in a similar race, talented Kiwi-bred gelding Piaggio returned to The Valley on Saturday and turned things around in emphatic style.
The six-year-old son of Vespa went into the A$130,000 Simpson Construction Handicap (1600m) after being unplaced in all of his three previous starts at the unique circuit, including bucking soon after leaving the gates on December 30 and failing to finish.
Saturday was a completely different story. Piaggio settled into a smooth rhythm near the tail of the field for jockey Celine Gaudray, then moved through his gears and produced a brilliant turn of foot in the straight. He roared past the front-running Toronto Terrier and snatched a thrilling win.
“He sure is a character, and after what happened here last time, we didn’t know what to expect,” Gaudray said. “But he was actually really quiet today – so much so that I thought he was going to be flat.
“He relaxed beautifully for me behind a good speed. He was off the bridle around the corner and I was pretty sure he was flat, but I kept niggling at him and he really knuckled down late.
“We all know he has a terrific turn of foot. I just think he hasn’t been to the Valley that much before. He seems to just wait to straighten up before he really knuckles down. He did that today and got the job done.”
Piaggio has now had a total of 22 starts for five wins, seven placings and A$216,445 in stakes.
He began his career in the Otaki stable of Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard, for whom he had five starts for a win and three placings including a second in the Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m).
Piaggio was later unplaced in five starts in Hong Kong before moving into the care of Cranbourne trainer Greg Eurell. His 12 starts from his new quarters have produced four wins and four placings.
“You’ve always got your heart in your mouth with this little guy, waiting to see what he does,” Eurell said. “Leading into this race, I was asked what I thought of his chances and I didn’t know what to say. For whatever reason, this has never been a track that’s been very kind to him. Things just haven’t gone right here. But fortunately they did today.
“If you take away the little incident he had here last time, his form in this campaign has been really good. He was a very solid placegetter at Flemington last time out.
“Hopefully he can carry on from here. He seems to be holding up really well in this preparation. He’s not a big horse, but he has the heart of a lion. For as long as he’s doing well in the stable, we’ll keep on keeping on.”
Piaggio is out of the two-win Scaredee Cat mare Sand’ior and was bred by South Canterbury breeders Sue and Stuart McGiffert, who sold the now gelding as a yearling for $8,000 at the 2019 Karaka Book 3 Sale.
