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Live sport on SN this weekendWhy Pier likely won't travel to Australia for the autumn
Connor Scanlon • February 5th, 2026 1:10 pm
Darryn Weatherley, the co-trainer of New Zealand star Pier, has confirmed the Kiwi gelding’s summer/autumn plans.
Briar Weatherley’s co-trainer revealed that the six-year-old will likely stay in New Zealand, competing in the Group 1 BCD Sprint (1400m) on February 7, the Group 1 Otaki-Māori Classic (1600m) on February 21 and Group 1 Bonecrusher Stakes (2000m) on March 7.
The son of Proisir will have his first-up run this Saturday in the BCD Sprint and Weatherley is confident his bay will perform well fresh.
“He goes well fresh – he’s had five first-up runs, he's won two of them and placed in two,” Weatherley told SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up.
“I wouldn't swap him for any other runner, let's put it that way, but it is a very good field.
“We've drawn 3, so I'm very pleased with the draw.
“His work's been super, he looks bright in the eye and he's a pitcher. I certainly wouldn't swap him for any other runner.
Regarding his second and third-up runs, the co-trainer explained why Pier will most likely stay in New Zealand.
“We're actually very fortunate here, the money's not too bad here,” Weatherley said.
“Getting through Saturday safely, in two weeks' time, there's another Group 1 mile at Ellerslie (Otaki- Māori Classic), and two weeks after that, there's a Group 1 2000m race at Ellerslie called the Bonecrusher Stakes.
“For the short term he may stay here, but he also holds a nomination for the Doncaster Mile.”
When asked about how the gelding is currently going, the co-trainer admitted that he couldn’t be more pleased with the six-year-old.
“I couldn't be happier, he's flying,” admitted Weatherley.
“Last Friday we took him to Te Rapa, where he races on Saturday, for an exhibition gallop between races.
“He worked with a grey horse, Kingswood, picked him up about the 800m and it was a nice hit out for him and brought him on further.
“I thought he might have been a bit vulnerable on Saturday first-up, but his fighting weight is 531kg – his best weight I find – and he was 532kg this morning when I put him on the scale, so he's not far away at all.”
Pier’s last preparation in Australia proved that he is a legitimate horse, finishing fourth to Via Sistina in the Champions Stakes (2000m) and placing behind Ceolwulf in the King Charles (1600m).
Reflecting on that spring preparation, the co-trainer admitted that it has turned the horse into a better animal.
“The trip has definitely made the horse,” Weatherley stated.
“He just has a presence about himself (now), and you can tell he just looks like a Group 1 horse, takes everything in his stride, mentally more mature now and definitely physically more mature.
“He certainly held his own.”
Pier is currently the equal favourite for the BCD Sprint on Saturday, alongside Here To Shock at $3.70 with Sportsbet.
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