Group One winner Pier is set to make his raceday return at Trentham next week after nearly a year away from the track.
The five-year-old gelding was a revelation in his three-year-old term, winning three and placing in two of his six starts, including victories in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m).
The son of Proisir has been plagued by issues in subsequent years, only having four starts last season, three of those in the spring, before returning to win over 1300m at Te Aroha in his last raceday outing last June.
“He has just had a couple of issues, he had a bit of a problem with a knee, but more than anything it’s been immaturity and time is a great healer,” said Darryn Weatherley, who trains in partnership with his daughter Briar.
“This time in he has been really good, we gave him plenty of time. He spent a bit of time on the water treadmill at Mark and Shelley Treweeks, and we brought him up quietly and he’s ticking all of the boxes.”
Pier made his first public appearance this year when winning his 800m heat at the Ellerslie trials on Thursday, much to the satisfaction of Weatherley.
“It was a nice hit-out,” he said. “He has been off the scene for quite some time, so we were looking forward to getting him back out there for a day out. He had a bit of a shake and a sweat before the trial, but then afterwards he walked in like he had been doing it all his all life.
“He pulled up really well, he recovered quickly, so hopefully he comes through it okay and then he may look to Trentham for the Listed sprint (City of Napier Sprint, 1200m) next Saturday.
“We will just take one step at a time. The first hurdle has been completed, and it will be nice to get to the Hawke’s Bay sprint next Saturday and once we are over that hurdle we will sit down and discuss where we go. Whether we go to Brisbane for the winter or stay around here, it all depends on the horse, he comes first.”
Stablemate Vito also pleased when finishing runner-up in his 800m heat.
“He is a half to Ess Vee Are and Arby, he is by Vadamos and out of the same mare as the other two,” Weatherley said.
“That was his second trial and he has had two seconds at the trials. He is a horse with a bit of family ability, and we will have a lot of fun with him when he gets to the races.”
Looking ahead to the weekend, Weatherley will return to Ellerslie on Saturday where he will be represented by two runners.
Debut winner Inside Out will be looking to double-up in the Auckland Co-op Taxis 1500, while Perspective will contest the Cloudsoft Accounting 2200.
“Inside Out is a beautiful horse and he has come on well since his maiden win,” Weatherley said. “He doesn’t show a lot in his work, but he is a racehorse and I will be expecting another bold showing, I think a bit of him.
“Perspective was a bit ordinary last start, but I think the ground was soft enough for him whereas Ellerslie has got quite a nice footing out there, even if we do get rain, and it is a different Soft to what Pukekohe was. His work has been good so we can hopefully get back to the form that he showed at Matamata.”