Pierina (NZ) Powers to Group Two Triumph

After a series of near-misses in black-type company, Karaka graduate Pierina (NZ) (Savabeel) earned a valuable first stakes success with a scintillating performance in Saturday’s $100,000 Group Two Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.

A half-sister to the stakes winner and New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Showemup (NZ) (Showcasing), Pierina was a $110,000 purchase from the 2016 Select Sale. She has now had 29 starts for five wins, five placings and $181,842 in stakes.

For much of her career, Pierina has been so close, but so far away at stakes level. Her previous black-type starts have included an unlucky eighth in the Group Two Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), a close sixth in the Group Three J Swap Sprint (1400m), a fourth in the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes, two fourths in the Group Two Rich Hill Mile (1600m), a fourth in the Listed Flying Stakes (1400m) and an eye-catching third in last week’s Listed Anzac Mile (1550m).

But on Saturday she snapped that streak of supporting roles and stepped up to an all-new level.

Ridden by Michael McNab for Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh, the six-year-old settled in the second half of the field and was travelling smoothly coming up to the home turn.

A gap opened along the rail at the top of the straight and Pierina pounced, producing a brilliant burst through that opening and careering away. She romped home for a runaway victory, scoring by five lengths from Group One performer Travelling Light (NZ) (El Roca) and multiple Group winner Savy Yong Blonk (NZ) (Savabeel).

“That was a good field and she just destroyed them,” Marsh told NZ Racing Desk. “She had just thrived so much off her last run and was ready to go a big race.

“She is a mare that is really only just coming right, so to pick up a black-type placing last week and top that off with a Group Two win is very special and a real boost to her broodmare prospects.”