Glamour colt Pierro continued his march towards the Doncaster Mile by upstaging older horses for the second time this campaign in winning the $400,000 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill.
Keeping an unbeaten record in Sydney, Pierro sat deep from the middle stages and came wide on the turn to overhaul New Zealand warhorse King Mufhasa.
Pierro’s trademark acceleration was missing as he took a long time to get the better of the runner-up but jockey Nash Rawiller said the colt wasn’t happy in the rain-affected going.
“I was concerned a few times in the run because he was dipping and diving but I was still confident he could win,” Rawiller said.
Despite the closeness of the result for the odds-on favourite, trainer Gai Waterhouse had nothing but the highest praise for the 2012 Golden Slipper winner.
“He’s a special horse, he’s a sexy horse. He’s the best,” Waterhouse said.
Established Group One performer Shoot One beat a wall of horses for the minor placing.
Pierro earlier this campaign confirmed his place at the top of Doncaster Mile betting with a first-up Canterbury Stakes win.