Tenth Stakes-Winner for Pierro

The colours of last season’s champion three year-old colt and Everest runner up Trapeze Artist were carried to victory in the Listed ATC Reginald Allen Stakes at Randwick on Saturday by progressive filly I Like It Easy (3f Pierro x Gai's Choice, by General Nediym).

A home-bred for Bert Vieira prepared by Gerald Ryan, I Like It Easy showed ability in her first preparation with a win at Warwick Farm and a second to top class colt Graff and was resuming from a spell in this 1400 metre contest.

With three trials under her belt she was fit for the challenge and made light of the heavy ground to lead all the way and win by a half neck, pulling out plenty of courage under pressure.

It was a great result for Mr Vieira, who has faced personal tragedy in recent weeks with his wife Gai Vieira critically injured in a car crash in early September involving a high speed chase of another driver by a highway patrol car that ended in disaster.

Mr Vieira was at the races and surrounded by friends and family as I Like it Easy returned to scale.

“It’s been tough, but we’re happy to be here,” Bert Vieira said.

“That horse is from a mare named Gai’s Choice, it was named after her and for it to win on a day like today is just amazing. We’re very proud and excited to be here with my family, it wasn’t ‘I Like it Easy’… but she did alright!”

I Like it Easy is the first winner for stakes-winning General Nediym mare Gai’s Choice, who was raced with great success by the Vieira family winning seven races and over $400,000 in prizemoney.

A half-sister to stakes-winners Atmospherical and Peron, Gai’s Choice has a yearling filly by Vancouver and was one of 192 mares covered by Pierro last spring.

I Like It Easy is the tenth stakes-winner for Golden Slipper winner Pierro.