This Racing Game Is All Too Hard

Saturday, 13 October 2012 05:26

Pierro's Disappointed ConnectionsGoing into today's Caulfield Guineas, the media spotlight shone brightly on Pierro, the Gai Waterhouse colt being valued in some quarters at $24 million.

As so often happens when a high class horse is the subject of intense media scrutiny, his "trackwork with the stars" appearance on Tuesday became a "we'll show them how good he is" exercise.

While the "best trackwork ever seen at Flemington" headlines the next day may have given an inner glow to connections, the reality is that the work reported as a final 600m in 33.88sec, 400m in 21.35 and last 200m in 10.38 was more suited to the closing stages of the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate than a gallop at Flemington.

The outcome of that gallop, which would have left most horses stiff and sore, combined with an arrogant ride in today's Guineas by Nash Rawiller left Pierro as a sitting duck for All Too Hard. Rawiller must have thought he was on an unbeatable proposition to push Pierro through his early sectionals so quickly, especially up the taxing hill at the back of the Caulfield track.

All Too Hard Races Past PierroPierro ran his first 600m in today's Guineas in 34.12, first 400m in 22.24 and his first 200m in a sizzling 10.74, almost the mirror image of what he did at the end of Tuesday's gallop. In contrast, he ran his final sectionals with the final 600m in 36.57sec, 400m in 24.52 and last 200m in 12.63.

On the other hand, John Hawkes the trainer of All Too Hard must have noticed that the workload imposed on Pierro was altogether too hard and strategised that he would be vulnerable at the end of today's race. All Too Hard was dropped out to last early by Dwayne Dunn who knew that the early pace was unsustainable.

For winning owner Nathan Tinkler today's win may have diminished the pressure he felt to liquidate his over capitalised Patinack Farm by selling it to Qatar's Sheikh Fahad Al Thani for a rumoured asking price of $200 million.

The Sheikh is rather too busy at the moment trying to usurp the government of Syria, so it is not surprising that he knocked back Tinkler's planned sale. But maybe some other Sheikh may come knocking knowing that Tinkler's creditors are pressing for payment.

If Pierro was worth $24 million before today, Black Caviar's little brother might be worth nearly as much as a stallion prospect.

Its still a long way from $200 million though and maybe altogether too hard for Tinkler to realise the vast sums he has spent on his thoroughbred operation.

Racing is a hard game.

Photos: Quentin Lang