Caulfield triumph for well-travelled Piaggio

[Wandering Eyes]

Six-year-old gelding Piaggio (NZ) (Vespa) landed a breakthrough metropolitan victory for trainer Greg Eurell when successful at Caulfield on Saturday in the Millennium Services Group Handicap (1600m).

Ridden by Celine Gaudray, Piaggio sat outside eventual runner-up Montather (Dubawi) for the majority of the contest, before pulling away from his rivals inside the final furlong to score by half a length.

A son of Vespa, Piaggio commenced his career with trainers Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard in New Zealand, where he placed in the Gr.3 Taranaki Classic (1200m) as a two-year-old before being sold to Hong Kong.

After five unsuccessful performances in Hong Kong where he raced as Good Health, Piaggio was sent to Eurell, where he has returned to form, winning three of his nine starts for the Cranbourne conditioner, with a further three placings.

“It was a bonus what he did (when finishing second) first-up this time in over 1400m. He was up for the fight and probably indicated from that run that he was heading in the right direction to have a good prep,” Eurell said.

“There is not a lot of him. He is only a little horse, but he has got a big heart.

“I think a mile is probably the optimum trip at this stage but a bit deeper into the prep he might get over a little bit further but we will sit around the 1600m for now.

“It’s his second preparation with us and the horse is absolutely enjoying life and we are happy to keep racing him. Being in Hong Kong didn’t really suit him and he is happy to be here.” Piaggio is out of the two-win Scaredee Cat mare Sand’ior (NZ) and was bred by South Canterbury breeders Sue and Stuart McGiffert, who sold the now gelding as a yearling for $8,000 at the 2019 Karaka Book 3 Sale.

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