Royally bred Pierro filly Pinot scored a dominant victory in the $1million Group I VRC Oaks at Flemington on Thursday.
Prepared by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Pinot has been aimed at the VRC Oaks since the start of this preparation and planning and patience paid dividends when the powerhouse filly forged clear at the finish to win the 2500 metre marathon by a length and a quarter.
A touch slow from the gates, she recovered to travel smoothly for Steve Baster and ran the trip out strongly to defeat a pair of strong finishing fillies by High Chaparral (IRE) in Bring Me Roses and Hiyaam.
The favourite Aloisia was reshod at the barriers and failed to fire, fading to finish sixth.
Pinot provided champion trainer Gai Waterhouse with her first win in the VRC Oaks.
“It is special, it really is,” Waterhouse said.
“She came to Melbourne a maiden. She came here with no accolades or anything … and not looked back since then.”
A $200,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Coolmore draft for US syndicator Aaron Wellman’s Eclipse Thoroughbreds, Pinot runs for a partnership that also includes Newgate Farm, James Bester and Kate Waterhouse.
Her overall record is now an impressive three wins and two seconds from six starts with prizemoney of $733,275.
She is certainly bred to win an Oaks being a half-sister to stakes-winner Dizlago and Group II placed Lucky Lago from Group I AJC Australian Oaks winner Dizelle, a full sister to HK Horse of the Year Vengeance of Rain.
Bred by Keith Biggs and foaled and raised at Coolmore, Pinot has an interesting 2 x 4 double cross of champion sire Zabeel, so the 2500 metres of the Group I VRC Oaks held hold no fears for her!
Dizelle is now owned by Wilf Mula’s Aston Bloodstock and resides at Newgate Farm.
She has a colt foal by Written Tycoon and has been covered by our Group I winner Flying Artie, who was raced with so much success by Mr Mula and partners.