Superstar colt Pierro extended his unbeaten Sydney record with a stirring first up win in the Group Two Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Racing for the first time since last spring’s Cox Plate, Pierro showed his usual fighting qualities to hold out a determined challenge from the previously unbeaten Rebel Dane to win by a short head.

Winning trainer Gai Waterhouse couldn’t have been happier describing the weeks ahead for Pierro as “really exciting.”

“What an outstanding horse,” Waterhouse beamed. “First up, 1400 metres and it was the first time without the blinkers on.”

“He has a lot more up his sleeve. I loved the way he was able to settle in the race, fourth or fifth, and he got his breathing going.”

“Nash just picked him up, picked him up, and you do not have to win by much to win and that is exactly what he did.”

Winning rider Nash Rawiller also heaped compliments on the star colt.

“He does not like losing,” he said. “A long from home I was not as comfortable as I would have liked.”

“He has not changed, he still has the killer instinct. I thought we were beat the 50m but he lifted for me and he was running on empty.”

“He is a bigger, stronger colt I think, but I am amazed as to how much improvement he will take out of this run,” Rawiller added.

A son of former champion racehorse and now leading sire Lonhro, Pierro was sold twice by Magic Millions.

A Darley bred performer, Pierro was originally sold to David Kobritz for $115,000 at the 2010 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.

He was then prepared by Musk Creek Farm for the 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he was purchased by Waterhouse for $230,000.

Waterhouse purchased the handsome colt at the Gold Coast for Sydney based owners Greg and Donna Kolivos.

A winner of the two-year-old triple crown, Pierro has earned his connections over $3.67 million and that figure looks destined to rise with more Group One features on the radar.

Pierro is the sole winner to date for the Sydney and French winning Daylami mare Miss Right Note.

She is a half sister to Laverock, a close relation to Pierro, being by Lonhro’s sire Octagonal. Laverock is a multiple Group One winner with success at the elite level in Italy and France.

Winner: Pierro
Breeding: Lonhro-Miss Right Note (Daylami)
Race: ATC Hobartville Stakes G2 (1400m)
Sold for $115,000
Sale: 2010 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale
Vendor: Darley
Buyer: David Kobritz
Sold for: $230,000
Sale: 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Musk Creek Farm
Buyer: Gai Waterhouse
Earnings: $3,676,650
Owner(s): G & Mrs D Kolivos
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse (Randwick)