Pierrette Underrated Ahead Of Widden Stakes

Blake Shinn has been booked to ride Pierrette in the 2015 Widden Stakes and the leading hoop believes that the promising filly is being underrated by punters heading into the Group 3 event at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow.

Blake Shinn is confident that Pierrette will perform better than her odds suggest in the WIdden Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Blake Shinn is confident that Pierrette will perform better than her odds suggest in the WIdden Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Pierrette made her racing debut with a narrow victory over Sebring Sun in the Betting Season Plate (1000m) at Royal Randwick on October 11, but she has been friendless in betting markets for the Widden Stakes after she failed to fire in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick on January 15.

Shinn told Sky Racing HQ that he believes Pierrette represents value at her current Widden Stakes odds of $17 and he is confident that the Snippetson filly is a genuine chance of improving her record to two race wins from as many starts.

“I haven’t had much to do with her other than what most people have seen,” Shinn said.

“I think that she is being a little bit underestimated on Saturday.

“She beat a horse, Sebring Sun, which ran a nice race first-up and obviously has a bit of a rap on it and Flamboyant Lass has won subsequently to that race that Pierrette won.

“She is resuming on Saturday and has taken good benefit from that run and I think that she is a good chance.

“She is flying under the radar a little bit I feel.”

Shinn has also been booked to ride Driefontein for trainer Gai Waterhouse in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) and he is desperately hoping that the Rosehill Gardens track is able to dry substantially in the next 24 hours.

Driefontein has been a consistent performer at the highest level of racing since she made her racing debut back in 2011, with the talented mare taking out the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) last year, but she has never been able to perform at her best in the wet.

“I think the horse is going very well,” Shinn said.

“I worked her on Monday and she feels really good from her run at the Gold Coast.

“I feel her last two runs have been very good, but she is a horse that is very effective on dry ground and if she gets that I think she is one of the horses to beat on Saturday.

“The weather is going to play a big part in her chances that is for sure.”

Driefontein is currently available at 2015 Expressway Stakes odds of $8.50 with Ladbrokes Australia, while Panzer Division ($3.30) remains a clear favourite from Weary ($5.50), Boban ($7) and That’s A Good Idea ($7.50).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.