Pierro (horse)
Pierro is a retired Australian thoroughbred racehorse and stud stallion.
Pierro was bred at Musk Creek Farm and sold for $230,000 in the Magic Millions sale. A bay horse, he stands at 16.1hh.
He had a short racing career, racing in just two seasons over distances ranging from 1200m to 2040m.
At three years of age, after just two seasons of racing, he was retired to stud at Coolmore, in Jerrys Plains of NSW, where he was purchased for $40 million.
Racing career
Two-year-old season: 2011–2012
Pierro began his undefeated two-year-old season in the AJC Breeders' Plate in October 2011. He had a 5-month break before resuming in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes, which he won. He then ran in the Group 2 Spotless Todman Stakes, which secured him a place in the Group 1 Golden Slipper. Pierro started the slipper as a $6.50 chance, with the favourite Samaready coming in third to Pierro. With a convincing win in the slipper, his record went to four unbeaten starts, making him the champion two-year-old colt of the season.From here, Pierro went on to run in the Group 1 Inglis Sires Produce Stakes, where he started as second favorite behind the also unbeaten colt All Too Hard, where he notched up another win. The last race of his season, the Group 1 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes, where he started as $1.22 favorite. He finished with another win, finishing off his unbeaten two-year-old season with an unprecedented 6 wins from 6 starts in very competitive races, including the "Triple Crown" for two-year-olds.
Three-year-old season: 2012–2013
After the champagne stakes, Pierro was spelled for 5 months before resuming with the Run to the Rose at Rosehill. Starting as a $1.53 favourite, it was no surprise that Pierro added yet another win to his record. Following this, it was decided that he would be sent to Victoria, in the hopes of winning either the Caulfield Guineas or the Cox Plate, both races longer in distance compared to his usual race length. The first Victoria race Pierro raced in was the City Jeep Bill Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley, a Group 2 race which he won after starting as a $1.06 favourite. Following this was the Guineas, and with the step up in distance Pierro couldn't quite get there and managed a second place in this race. It was then back to the Valley for Pierro to have a run in the Cox Plate. A big step up in distance from his usual sprinting distances up to the 2040m distance. Proving too much for the horse, he still ran a convincing third, an admirable achievement for a sprinting horse.After the Victoria trip Pierro was sent back to NSW for a spell in preparation for the Sydney Autumn Carnival, one, which like his two-year-old season, he would dominate. Another 5-month spell proved ideal for Pierro, and he returned fresh in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes with a win back at his usual distance. It was then on to the Cellarbrations Cantebury Stakes, with another Group 1 win under his belt. He then geared up for the prestigious George Ryder Stakes, where as the $1.36 favourite he won yet again. Pierro's final race was the famous BMW Doncaster. Over the longer distance and heavy track he ran second to Sacred Falls. Following this, the owners decided to retire him to stud. He was then sold to Coolmore stud, in a deal rumoured to be worth $30 million.
His race record stands at 14 starts for 11 wins, 2 seconds, and one third. His longest winning streak was 8 in a row. He had a winning strike rate of 78.6% and a place rate of 100%. He was the highest rated Australian juvenile since 1977 and the highest-rated 3yo sprinter in the world in 2013.
Race record
| Date | Result | Race | Venue | Distance | Group | Prizemoney | Weight | Time | Jockey | Winner/2nd |
| 1 September 2012 | Won | The Run To The Rose | Rosehill | 1200m | G3 | $75,000 | 60 kg | 01:09.86 | Nash Rawiller | Your Song |
| 28 September 2012 | Won | City Jeep Bill Stutt Stakes | Moonee Valley | 1600m | G2 | $132,000 | 57 kg | 01:36.31 | Nash Rawiller | Massive Impact |
| 13 October 2012 | 2nd | Beck Caulfield Guineas | Caulfield | 1600m | G1 | $180,000 | 56.5 kg | 01:36.05 | Nash Rawiller | All Too Hard |
| 27 October 2012 | 3rd | W. S. Cox Plate | Moonee Valley | 2040m | G1 | $220,000 | 49.5 kg | 02:04.14 | Corey Brown | Ocean Park |
| 3 March 2013 | Won | Hobartville Stakes | Rosehill | 1400m | G2 | $120,000 | 56.5 kg | 01:24.75 | Nash Rawiller | Rebel Dane |
| 23 March 2013 | Won | Cellarbrations Cantebury Stakes | Rosehill | 1300m | G1 | $210,000 | 56 kg | 01:15.99 | Jim Cassidy | More Joyous |
| 6 April 2013 | Won | Daily Telegraph George Ryder Stakes | Rosehill | 1500m | G1 | $240,000 | 56.5 kg | 01:31.08 | Nash Rawiller | Mufhasa |
| 20 April 2013 | 2nd | BMW Doncaster | Randwick | 1600m | G1 | $400,000 | 57 kg | 01:37.99 | Nash Rawiller | Sacred Falls |