Melbourne’s Darley foreman Paul Snowden believes the uncertainty of racing is the only chance of Epaulette causing an upset over Sydney’s unbeaten colt Pierro in the Group 1 $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield tomorrow.
Epaulette. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Even though Epaulette goes into the Guineas with a Group 1 and Group 3 win to his credit, the Commands colt is at the good odds of $9, the second elect behind the Gai Waterhouse trained two year old Triple Crown winner, Pierro who is at the short quote of $1.23.
“Just as long as we turn up fit and well on the day, as we are now and, who knows?” Snowden said.
“The biggest thing in our favour is we’re going to have something pretty good to chase home.”
“That’s going to keep him focused, and hopefully we are good enough on the day.”
Pierro has taken the imagination of racegoers with his domination during his two year old season with wins in the three Group 1s in the Autumn, the $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m), the $500,000 Inglis Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) and the $400,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) by almost three lengths.
And the Lonhro colt continued his winning form taking out the Group 3 $125,000 The Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill on September 1 and the Group 2 $220,000 City Jeep Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 28 in a canter.
Snowden is confident that Epaulette is ready to take on Pierro again after finishing third to the unbeaten colt in the Run To The Rose before coming from last on the home turn to nose out stablemate Albrecht in the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 15.
Epaulette then repeated that winning performance with a tough win over the Mick Price trained Let Go Lenni in the Group 3 $175,000 BECK Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on September 30.
“He’s ticked two big boxes along the way and that’s given us a lot of confidence going into Saturday,” Snowden said.
Leading Sydney jockey Nash Rawiller will go forward on Pierro form barrier seven and take up a prominent position while Kerrin McEvoy will be able to sit on his tail and observe his every move.
Let Go Lenni was able to lead when second to Epaulette and looks the likely leader again from the inside gate.
“Pierro is a horse that likes to dominate his races in the first three and I would expect him to go forward and look to get across in the first four,” said Simon Marshal, spokesman for part owners BC3 Thoroughbreds.
“We’re going to have to jump and hold the paint and if they let us lead so be it.”
Let Go Lenni is at the juicy odds of $35 while the Nathan Tinkler owned All Too Hard is on the third line of betting at $14.
Pierro is aiming for his ninth straight win from nine starts and already has been installed as the short price $2.10 favourite for the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 27.
