The speculation over where glamour colt Pierro will kick off his autumn campaign has ended with trainer Gai Waterhouse confirming he will run in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on March 2.

Pierro will kick off his autumn in the Hobartville Stakes on March 2. Photo by : Steve Hart.

It was previously thought the Golden Slipper winner would contest the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington but that now appears unlikely given it takes place just seven days after the Hobartville.

Waterhouse broke the news on twitter after the son of Lonhro ran home strongly behind stablemate Landing in a trial at Warwick Farm this morning.

“Champion colt Pierro had a nice hit-out at Warwick Farm this morning. He has pulled up well & will contest the 1400m Hobartville Stakes,” Waterhouse said.

It was the second pre-autumn trial for last year’s two-year-old triple crown winner who is now well on track towards adding to his impressive resume of eight wins from 10 starts and $3.55 million in prizemoney.

As always, Waterhouse is remaining coy with his autumn program but it is believed the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) in April is one of the major targets.

Despite his unbeaten record ending during the spring, Pierro is still considered one of the nation’s best gallopers and many fans are hoping he will get the chance to exact revenge on fellow colt All Too Hard.

The half-brother to Black Caviar delivered Pierro his first defeat when storming down the outside to cause an upset in the Caulfield Guineas and also ran one place better than Pierro when second in the Cox Plate.

But the advantage could be in Pierro’s camp if they clash in his own backyard this autumn with doubts still surrounding over All Too Hard’s ability to perform in the Sydney direction following some poor early spring results.