Muscled up Pierata chases first G1 win in 2018 Epsom Handicap

A muscled up Pierata will be chasing his first Group 1 win when he lines up in the $1m Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Pierata, above, will be ridden by Corey Brown in the 2018 Epsom Handicap at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Pierata is the winner of five of his twelve race starts with prizemoney earnings of almost $2.4 million while his best Group 1 performance was a second to Kementari in the Group 1 $1m Mostyn Copper Group Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick during the 2018 Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Pierata’s win in the $2m Magic Millions 3yo Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast in January gave a hug boost to his earnings and he also picked up a healthy winning cheque when he beat Kementari first up in the Group 2 $200,000 Mostyn Copper Group Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on August 4

The Pierro stallion was beaten a nose by Siege Of Quebec in the Group 3 $160,000 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on September 15 and trainer Greg Hickman said the four year old has continued to strengthen up the further he has gone into his campaign.

“He’s strengthening up all the time, doing work he would never have done before and he’s eating more than ever before,” Hickman told Racing New South Wales News Desk.

“He is a pretty smart horse and he is just starting to realise it.’’

“This is the first time he has gone into a Group 1 with all the boxes ticked.’’

“Surprisingly enough he pulled up really well out of the last run and has gone about what we would normally do with him. The bin has been clean, his work has been super.’’

Corey Brown has found his way back aboard Pierata after James McDonald, who has ridden the four year old at his two starts this preparation, elected to take the ride on the Chris Waller trainer D’Argento.

Brown has been Pierata’s regular rider in previous campaigns and was aboard for his win in the Magic Millions 3yo Guineas and when second in the Randwick Guineas.

Pierata has drawn nicely at barrier four in the capacity twenty horse Epsom Handicap field while D’Argento will also get every chance from the inside gate.

D’Argento, who is one of eight Chris Waller trained horses in the Epsom Handicap field, heads the market order at $4.20 with Ladbrokes.com.au just ahead of his stablemate Unforgotten at $4.50 while Pierata is on the third line of betting at $4.80.