Trainer Jason Warren has a dream
That dream is to get Grand Pierro into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.
The clock has already started ticking with Grand Pierro resuming in last month’s Mildura Cup, in which he finished fourth, and progresses to the Travis Harrison Cup (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Warren hopes to have Grand Pierro ready in time for the next Melbourne Cup qualifier, The Archer (2500m) at Flemington on September 12.
There are four remaining Cup qualifiers in Victoria with The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on October 3, the Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 21 and the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m), this year at Flemington, on October 24 to follow The Archer.
Nominations for the Melbourne Cup close on September 1.
“He will be entered in the chance that he could qualify,” Warren said.
“He’s proven over the distance in the Bagot and Adelaide Cup.
He’s not that obvious Melbourne Cup horse, but he stays and he could finish in the first half of the field if he got the chance.”
Grand Pierro had a campaign last spring that commenced in Melbourne and included finishing third to Half Yours in the Naturalism Stakes.
Warren tried earning a Melbourne Cup berth last year via The Bart Cummings (eighth) and Moonee Valley Gold Cup (fifth) before the stayer headed interstate, firstly to Newcastle and then to Perth for a three-run campaign, culminating in the Perth Cup on January 1.
After three jump-outs, Grand Pierro headed to Mildura for his first-up run which pleased Warren.
“I thought his run in the Mildura Cup was terrific,” Warren said.
“He drops in weight again for Saturday and I think it’s a nice race for him as the 1800 (metres) will suit him and it will give him the chance to get into a nice rhythm.
“He’s worked very well since his first-up run and he would need another run between now and The Archer, and I’ve planned to run him over 2000 metres at Caulfield in three weeks which would then give him two weeks to that race.
“If he could win on Saturday, or win in three weeks’ time, he could be well placed in The Archer.”
