Grand Pierro's Melbourne Cup aspirations take shape at Caulfield
Trainer Jason Warren holds a clear aspiration: to see Grand Pierro contesting the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.
The countdown has begun, with Grand Pierro's return to the track last month in the Mildura Cup, where he finished fourth. His campaign now continues with an appearance in the Travis Harrison Cup (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Warren's aim is to have Grand Pierro prepared for the next available Melbourne Cup qualifier, The Archer (2500m), which will be held at Flemington on September 12.
Four Melbourne Cup qualifiers remain in Victoria: The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on October 3, the Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 21, and the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) – this year staged at Flemington – on October 24, following The Archer.
Entries for the Melbourne Cup close on September 1.
"He will be entered in the chance that he could qualify," Warren advised.
"He's proven over the distance in the Bagot and Adelaide Cup."
"He's not that obvious Melbourne Cup horse, but he stays and he could finish in the first half of the field if he got the chance."
Grand Pierro's spring campaign last year commenced in Melbourne, where he secured third place behind Half Yours in the Naturalism Stakes.
Last spring, Warren sought a Melbourne Cup berth via The Bart Cummings (eighth) and the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (fifth) before the stayer was sent interstate for a three-race campaign in Newcastle and then Perth, concluding with the Perth Cup on January 1.
Following three jump-outs, Grand Pierro made his first-up start at Mildura, a run that impressed Warren.
"I thought his run in the Mildura Cup was terrific," Warren remarked.
"He drops in weight again for Saturday and I think it's a nice race for him as the 1800 (metres) will suit him and it will give him the chance to get into a nice rhythm.
"He's worked very well since his first-up run and he would need another run between now and The Archer, and I've planned to run him over 2000 metres at Caulfield in three weeks which would then give him two weeks to that race.
"If he could win on Saturday, or win in three weeks' time, he could be well placed in The Archer."
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