Tulloch Lodge has been bolstered by the return of several stable heavyweights ahead of a powerful raid on Australia’s springtime riches.
Trainer Gai Waterhouse’s recent homecoming has coincided with the return of her best two soldiers – Golden Slipper champion Pierro and Doncaster Handicap winner More Joyous.
Ajax Stakes winner Niagara is also back in work along with Caulfield Cup third placegetter Tullamore and autumn juvenile stars Driefontein, No Looking Back and Raceway.
“Champion youngster Pierro strode out and Nash [Rawiller] said he is such a professional,” Waterhouse wrote on her blog this week.
“When he gets distracted Nash just speaks to him and he immediately concentrates back on the task at hand. He’s still quite new into the prep and he just glided over the 1000m.
“Jim Cassidy rode Tullamore when he ran in the Canberra Cup and this morning he said he felt so much better. I think the gelding really loves the give in the ground.”
Pierro is priced as the $3 favourite to win the $1m Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 15th on TAB Sportsbet fixed odds betting.
One TAB Sportsbet customer has got in early to support Pierro in the Golden Rose to be held next month. They have outlaid $5,000 @ $3 on the unbeaten three-year-old.
Driefontein and Raceway are considered $17 hopes for the race with No Looking Back a $26 shot.
Waterhouse, however, is considering bypassing the Golden Rose with Pierro in favour of a campaign towards the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 13th and possibly the Group 1 WFA Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 27th.
Pierro, winner of the Sydney 2YO Triple Crown, picture Liesl King