Proud Weatherley prepares Pier for biggest test

[Wandering Eyes]

Darryn Weatherley is feeling the pride of a father as he gets set to line-up the horse he co-bred, co-owns and co-trains on one of Australia’s biggest days of racing.

Pier (NZ) (Proisir) carries the silks of well-known Australian owner Ozzie Kheir, but he remains a family pet in the Weatherley family, who have doted on the gelding since he was a foal.

A Group One winner at three, Pier has been a test of patience for his conditioners in recent years, having one start in 18 months before returning in April where he was runner-up in the Listed City Of Napier Sprint (1200m), which sealed his ticket across the Tasman, where he would have a memorable and rewarding next six months.

He began his Australian raid in Queensland where he placed in the Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) before winning the Listed The Wayne Wilson (1600m). Following a spell in the warmer climes of the Sunshine State, Weatherley met Pier in Sydney this spring where he placed in the Gr.2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m), was a game fifth in the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m), and was outstanding when running home for third in the Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) at Randwick on Everest Day.

Weatherley, who trains Pier in partnership with his daughter Briar, then shifted his sights further south to the Melbourne Cup Carnival. The Matamata trainer has an itch to step his gelding out over 2000m, and that will be scratched on Saturday in the Gr.1 Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.

“It was a huge run last start,” Weatherley said. “There were some pretty good horses behind him and he fought like a tiger. His trip to Melbourne has been good and I think he has improved further from Sydney.

“You have got a dual Cox Plate (Gr.1, 2040m) winner in Via Sistina in the field, but I really believe he deserves his spot in the field, and she will know he is there.”

The Waikato horseman is enjoying the atmosphere in Melbourne during its biggest week of the year, and he said he couldn’t be any prouder of his horse heading into the biggest test of his career.

“It is like having a son in the Rugby World Cup final or the 100m final at the Olympics,” Weatherley said. “He is racing against the best of the best. I am proud of the horse who has put me in this position and it’s good to be here.

“It is a pretty cool place to be at the moment, it is a very vibrant week.”

Weatherley couldn’t be any happier with the way Pier’s Australian campaign has gone and he is grateful for the hospitality shown by his hosts in each state, as well as his team back home while he has been campaigning their stable star.

“He has been here since May, he has only had the one airfare,” Weatherley said. “He has had five starts thus far and earned A$600,000, so it has been a pretty cool trip.

“I don’t know how many flights I have had to and from New Zealand, but it has been a fair few, I could just about fly the plane myself.

“The people I have stayed with – Brisbane with Barry Lockwood, Sydney with Richard Collett and Melbourne with Andrew Forsman – they have been absolutely fantastic, and I have enjoyed my time.

“I am very pleased to have Briar in partnership, who is doing the hard yards at home while Pier and I are enjoying the festivities over here.”

Pier will jump from barrier six and will have the services of regular Australian rider Ethan Brown aboard.

While Via Sistina dominates the Champions Stakes market at $1.70, bookmakers have plenty of respect for Pier, rating the Kiwi gelding a $12 fourth favourite behind Tom Kitten ($9.50) and fellow Ozzie Kheir runner Light Infantry Man ($11).

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