Sydney three year old Pierata is on target to collect a $500,000 bonus after winning the first leg of the Queensland Summer 3yo Crown bonus series, the $100,000 Winning Rupert Plate (1200m) at Doomben last Saturday.
Melbourne Cup winning jockey Corey Brown, above, was aboard Pierata for his win in the Winning Rupert Plate at Doomben, Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
If the Greg Hickman trained Pierata can win two of the remaining three races in the Bonus series, connections will pocket the $500,000 bonus.
The remaining three races in the series are Listed $100,000 Gold Edition Plate (1200m) at December 17 and the Group 3 $200,000 Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) on December 30, both at Doomben and the $2m Magic Millions 3yo Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 13.
“He’s not there yet but I think he’s a very smart horse,” Hickman said.
Pierata was facing the starter for the first time in the Winning Rupert Plate since running seventh to Capital Gain in the Group 1 $600,000 BMW J.J. Atkins (1600m) at Doomben during the Brisbane Winter Carnival in June.
Hickman was confident heading back to Doomben after the Pierro colt won the second of his barrier trails over 730m at Randwick on November 16.
“He trialled very well before coming up here and we were very confident,” Hickman said.
Melbourne Cup winning jockey Corey Brown gave Pierata the run of the race and the $3 equal favourite ran away from his opposition in the straight to record a two and three quarter lengths win over equal favourite Bring It Home Pop.
Pierata has now earned $128,650 in prizemoney and is on the way to recovering her yearling purchase price of $160,000 from the 2016 Magic Millions yearling sales.