Trainer Darryn Weatherley admits he isn’t sure how New Zealand Group 1 winner Pier will measure up against some of Australia’s most promising three-year-olds in the Hobartville Stakes, but he is happy to roll the dice and find out.
Racing is a family affair for the Kiwi horseman, who trains in partnership with his daughter Briar while son Sam will ride the Proisir gelding in Saturday’s Group 2 race.
Pier gave Darryn and Briar their first major as a joint venture when he captured the NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November, and they are hoping he might be the right horse to deliver their first across the Tasman.
But step one will be proving himself against the likes of boom Godolphin colt Aft Cabin in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill.
“It’s a different level over here and I’m aware of that but I think we’ve got the right horse to come and have a crack,” Darryn Weatherley said.
“I’m a realist. He’s got a few races pencilled in over here, but he has to run well on Saturday to warrant staying, otherwise we’ll go home with our tail between our legs.
“Aft Cabin looks very smart and a few good judges have said he might be one of the best we’ve seen in a long time.
“But at least we’ll get a line in the sand and we’ll see where we’re at.”
Pier arrived in Sydney on Sunday following a trip that took 12 hours box to box.
He lost 10kg on the flight over but has regained half of that, and Weatherley says the horse is bright and well within himself.
Bred by Weatherley and long-time friend and client Barry Wright, Pier attracted the interest of prolific owner Ozzie Kheir following his debut win at Matamata last year, Kheir subsequently purchasing a 25 per cent stake.
After finishing runner-up on a heavy track at his next start in Listed company, Pier snared the Hawkes Bay Guineas before rounding out his campaign with the Group 1 win.
The gelding showed he had returned in good order with a first-up third over 1200m in New Zealand last month when he carted 60kg and arguably should have finished closer.
“He was stuck down on the inside and he managed to run third but with any luck in the running I think he could have won it, he was held up for most of the straight,” Weatherley said.
“He hasn’t put a foot wrong for us, we are very lucky to have him.”
Pier comes to Sydney with a similar profile to 2021 Hobartville Stakes winner Aegon, who had also captured the Hawkes Bay-NZ 2000 Guineas double in the spring before claiming the Hobartville second-up off a run in New Zealand.
