Race favourite Pierata will have to pass a vet’s check before being cleared to take his place in the Group 2 $200,000 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Pierata, above, will have to pass a vet’s inspection before being allowed to run in the 2018 Tramway Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Racing New South Wales Stewards reported that trainer Greg Hickman had advised them that Pierata had some swelling in its near foreleg and was slightly lame when inspected this morning.
Stewrdas advised that Pierata would have to pass a veterinary inspection before he was allowed to run in the Tramway Stakes ad released the following statement on there website.
“Trainer Greg Hickman has reported to Racing NSW Stewards that Pierata was found to have swelling in its near foreleg last night (30 August 2018) and was mildly lame (0.5/5) in that leg this morning.
“Racing NSW Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Toby Koenig, will inspect Pierata this afternoon and provide a report to the Stewards relative to the suitability of the horse to start in “tomorrow’s Tramway Stakes at Royal Randwick.”
Pierata has stamped himself as a future topliner and has earned over $2 million in prizemoney with the help of his win in the $2m Magic Millions 3yo Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast in January but is yet to win at Group 1 level.
The closest the Greg Hickman trained four year old came to joining the Group 1 winner’s club was a second to Kementari in the Group 1 $1m Mostyn Copper Group Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick during the 2018 Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Pierata proved too strong for Kementari when they ran the quinella in the Group 2 $200,000 Mostyn Copper Group Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on August 4 and the Pierro stallion will be taking on Group 1 winners Le Romain, Comin’ Through, Takedown, Egg Tart and Youngstar in the Tramway Stakes.
Hickman said that Pierata has come through his Missile Stakes win in great shape before suffering this minor setback.
Pierata currently sits at the top of the market order for the Tramway Stakes at $3.40 with Ladbrokes.com.au just ahead of Kris Lees’ multiple Group 1 winner Le Romain while the Mark Newnham trained Lanciato is on the third line of betting at $7.50.
Pierata has drawn barrier three in the Tramway Stakes field that has been reduced to twelve runners following the early withdrawal of the Chris Waller trained Foxplay with James McDonald retaining the ride after the pair combined for the Missile Stakes win.
Hugh Bowman finds himself aboard Le Romain (Barrier 10) who scored a first up win with McDonald in the saddle in the Group 3 $150,000 Nexon Show County Quality (1200m) at Randwick on August 18.
