Pierro Colt Wins Epic G2 Hobartville Stakes
The Group II ATC Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday had a very short priced favourite in Aft Cabin, but a torrid run in transit left him vulnerable with super talented colt Osipenko (3c Pierro x Raskova, by Henrythenavigator) claiming victory for his first Black Type success.
The Chris Waller trained son of Pierro closed out his spring campaign with a half length third to Golden Mile in the Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas and was a luckless fifth when resuming from a spell behind Aft Cabin in the Group III ATC Eskimo Prince.
He appreciated a step up in trip travelling just behind the leaders for Nash Rawiller before surging through long the inside to hold a narrow margin over Zou Tiger and the late closer Matcha Latte with Aft Cabin a fading fifth.
The first three colts were all Group I placed in the spring and all three could easily be Group I winners come the end of this autumn.
"Nash (Rawiller) made amends today and gave him an absolute peach," said Charlie Duckworth, assistant trainer for Chris Waller.
"He began much better from the barriers, put himself in the perfect (position in the) run and made it very difficult for the short-priced favourite who had to work hard.
"Nash just bided his time up the straight and said 'yahoo Sally' at the 200 and off we went.
"Bring on the mile. I'm confident he will stay beyond that as well, but the ultimate goal is the Guineas next start."
With two wins and two placings from just six starts, Osipenko has already won over $618,000 in prizemoney with more to come.
A $160,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase for Kaha / Chris Waller Racing from the Valachi Downs draft, Osipenko was bred by Kevin Hickman and is the first winner from stakes-placed import Raskova (USA), a half-sister to US stakes--winner Dogtag from the family of champion sires Shamardal and Street Cry.
Raskova was sent back to Australia last spring and was covered again by Pierro.
Osipenko is the 33rd stakes-winner for Pierro, who has 29 entries for Inglis Easter and six for Inglis Premier.