Darryn Weatherley is looking forward to heading back to Hastings next month with Pier after his runner-up effort behind Dynastic in the Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) on Saturday.
It was the Proisir gelding’s second start after winning on debut at Matamata last month and Weatherley was pleased with what her saw on the weekend from the three-year-old he co-bred, co-owns, and co-trains.
“I thought it was a really good run considering it was only his second start. He only had two trials and he won his first start over 1000m on his home track,” said Weatherley, who trains in partnership with his daughter Briar.
“A trip away to Hastings and up against handier horses was a brave effort I thought.”
Weatherley has had a high opinion of the gelding for some time and he expects that he will continue to improve with age.
“He is a good galloper but I still think he is six months away. He is a November foal, so he is not quite three yet,” he said.
“That track was quite testing the other day and it just may have found him out the last little bit. But that is taking nothing away from the winner, who was a Karaka Million winner.”
Prior to Saturday’s run, well-known Melbourne owner Ozzie Kheir purchased into the gelding, who could find himself racing in front of his new owner after spring.
“Ozzie Kheir has bought 25 percent of him,” Weatherley said. “It is good to be involved with someone like him. He is a big player and he has got horses with a few people.
“If he looks like he is able to compete in Australia there is every chance that he could end up over there.
“I still own a quarter of him and the other owner Barry Wright has still got half. We are happy to go over there but having spoken with Ozzie, he said if he is better placed here then he will stay here, but if he shows he has enough ability to take on the Aussies he could head over there in the autumn.”
Like many of the country’s three-year-olds, the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November remains the ultimate target for Pier this spring, but his path towards that goal will continue at Hastings next month.
“The 2000 Guineas is the plan at the moment, but what gets there is a different story,” Weatherley said.
“His next run will be in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m), and we will assess things after that.
“Christchurch is definitely on the agenda.”
Weatherley is happy to make the trip back to Hastings again after Pier travelled satisfactorily over the weekend.
“It is a long day. He did leave a bit of feed on Saturday night, which was expected. I cut a fair bit of grass for him and he cleaned that up,” Weatherley said.
“Last night he ate up well. I have given him two days off and he will go back to the track tomorrow and just have a swim.
“He seemed a lot brighter today.”
Having bred Pier in partnership with Barry Wright, Weatherley is looking forward to the future with the breed.
“We are very lucky, we have got a good family and La Vitesse has been a very good broodmare,” he said.
“She is out of a good mare in Naturo that was one of Sarg’s (John Sargent, trainer) better ones. She could have just about won the 1000 Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) herself but broke down at the top of the straight and still ran fifth.
“She never raced afterwards, but had won a Gold Trail (Gr.3, 1200m) and Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.2, 1200m).”
With the success of Pier, Weatherley has chosen to send La Vitesse back to his sire Proisir.
“She has foaled a Contributer filly and she will go back to Poisir,” he said.
“We are lucky to have the horse in the country. He ran second to Dundeel a couple of times and had he beaten Dundeel we may not have got him over here.
“He is certainly a good sire for New Zealand and the Aussies love him too. Ozzie targeted Pier because of Proisir, and of course he also owns Yonce, who is a daughter of the sire.”
