Pier dominates in Wayne Wilson to highlight Stradbroke Handicap missed opportunity

The Australian

15 hours ago

Exciting Kiwi galloper Pier was stranded two spots outside the Group 1 Stradbroke field, but his trainer Darryn Weatherley felt he could have given the race a mighty shake.
And on the evidence of the gelding's thumping win when scoring the consolation prize of the Listed Wayne Wilson (1600m) at Eagle Farm, it was hard to disagree.
Had five-year-old Pier nailed a Stradbroke start, he would have carried just 51kg.
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Pier's hopes of gaining a slot in the Stradbroke always appeared forlorn, fourth emergency and still two off the field even after there were a pair of scratchings.
But punters didn't miss him in the Wayne Wilson, backing him strongly from $3.10 to $2.60 and he didn't let them down as he thumped his opposition by three lengths.
Pier's racing journey hasn't been straightforward, from the exhilarating moment of winning the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas in 2022, to devastating lows of many injury setbacks.
Leading Australian owner Ozzie Kheir looks to have another nice horse on his hands.
'I truly believe he would have been a force to be reckoned with in the Straddie, but maybe next year,' Weatherley, who trains in partnership with his daughter Briar, said.
'I would like to spell him here for a month then have a crack at the first Group 1 in New Zealand and the hopefully to Melbourne in the spring.'
Pier had warmed up for Saturday's assignment with a flashing light run in the Group 3 BRC Sprint when flashing home from last to finish third.
'Last start he ran a blinder, but he drew a lot more favourably today,' jockey Ethan Brown said.
'It is a bloody long straight but I was on a well prepared, fit horse who carried me through.'
In the opening race on Stradbroke day, the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m), Michael Freedman's three-year-old filly Just Feelin' Lucky ($5) led them a merry dance.
The young daughter of US champion Justify wasn't for catching and justified Freedman's decision to give her a shot at a valuable Group race.
The filly cost just $80,000 as a yearling but is now worth much more than that and put two wins on the bounce after scoring a midweek race in Sydney at her previous start.
'These Justifys are free-rolling and I had a good chat to Tommy Berry before the race and the idea was to dictate the race from the front and it ended up perfect,' Freedman said.
'It is getting to the back end of the racing season, she's going to turn four pretty soon, so we thought we'd go and have a crack at some black type.
'She's quite a valuable filly now.'
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Floozie lives up to Gollan's wraps
Tony Gollan might be turning into Nostradamus as he had a Group 1 prophecy with exciting mare Floozie which is now another step closer to being fulfilled.
Queensland's champion trainer has this winter carnival been telling anyone who will listen that Floozie is a star.
After her stylish win in the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday, she will now be deployed in the Group 1 Tatt's Tiara in a fortnight.
Floozie, a four-year-old daughter of Zoustar, was formerly trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr in Victoria and now hasn't been beaten in four starts since arriving at Gollan's Eagle Farm stables.
She won some modest Benchmark races at the start of her campaign, but wins in the Silk Stocking and now the Dane Ripper have showcased the talent that Gollan always knew she had.
The Group 2 triumph was also the biggest win of young jockey Angela Jones' career and she rode the mare a treat.
Gollan is now heading overseas to Royal Ascot, but will have a tantalising treat to come back to as he unleashes Floozie in the Group 1 Tatt's Tiara for fillies and mares at Eagle Farm in a fortnight.
'She is a really good mare this,' Gollan said.
'I said when she won a Benchmark 70 four starts ago that this mare would take part in the winter carnival.
'That's exactly what she is doing.
'Onwards to the Tiara in a fortnight now and I can't wait.
'This mare is going to give that race a hell of a shake and when mares are in form, they can do anything.
'She won on a heavy track on the Gold Coast the other day and it was a firm track here today so she goes good on all surfaces.'
Floozie was strongly backed from $6 to $4.60 in the Dane Ripper and her backers barely raised a sweat with Jones having her perfectly positioned before she zoomed for home.
'It is just incredible for this mare to string four together at a tough time of the carnival,' Jones said.
'She is just brilliant. She is a jockey's dream.
'You can just put her where you want her.'