Pierata up for clash
AFTER missing out on a start in The Everest, Pierata gets his chance to tackle Redzel when the two line up in the VRC Sprint Classic at Flemington tomorrow.
They are the early equal favourites for the Group 1 sprint over the 1200m straight course, something new to Pierata but familiar to Redzel, the winner of last year’s race.
He has also won a Listed race over 1000m.
Redzel has won the first two runnings of Australia’s richest race, The Everest, with Pierata under consideration for a slot a couple of weeks out from the race last month.
Pierata’s owners, who include his trainer Greg Hickman and Gold Coast couple George and Carol Clegg, failed to reach a slot agreement and he ran in the Sydney Stakes on a wet Everest day, October 13, recording a faster time than Redzel in the major race.
“He hasn’t been down the straight so it’s a bit of a question,” Hickman said.