Hickman moves to back life-changing stallion at Inglis Classic Sale

Pierata (Pierro) was the horse of a lifetime for veteran Warwick Farm trainer Greg Hickman.

The astute horseman selected him from the Kitchwin Hills draft at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and he went on to become a $5.8 million prize-money-earning Group 1 winner, defeating the likes of Trapeze Artist (Snitzel), Bivouac (Exceed And Excel), Brutal (O’Reilly),  Nature Strip (Nicconi), and Redzel (Snitzel) along the journey. 

When he retired from racing in 2020, Pierata delivered Hickman and the rest of his ownership group a huge windfall when he was snapped up in a multi-million stallion deal by Aquis Farm. This financial outcome positively changed the course of Hickman’s life.

In the three years since, the 62-year-old has been taking it slow and steady, resisting the temptation to splash all his hard-earned cash on more horses and instead park it safely in property investments and set himself and his family up for life.

But this week at the Inglis Classic Sale he decided to take a punt on Pierata’s first crop of yearlings, purchasing three of them for a total spend of $319,000 in a decision that was no doubt influenced by the popularity of Pierata’s first offering, with good judges at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling sale diving into the stallion’s progeny.

At the season-opening sale his biggest seller was the first foal out of Manikato Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible), which was knocked down to Ciaron Maher and David Eustace for $800,000.

And, once again, respected buyers rallied for his progeny at the Classic Sale. The most expensive of the 26 lots sold was a colt out of Dizzy Diva (Starspangledbanner) from the Tyreel Stud draft for $250,000, which was picked up by Willie Leung’s Magus Equine for the Hong Kong market.

Pierata’s two equal second highest-priced yearlings were both sold for $220,000. The James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership came away with Lot 595, a colt out of Matildare (Rothesay) from the Highgrove Stud draft and Merrick Staunton bought Lot 622, a colt from Mount Omei (Fastnet Rock) for Hong Kong.

Hickman led the charge in terms of numbers, taking home lots 99 (Pierata ex Splat) for $40,000, 602 (Pierata ex Miss Beauty World) for $200,000, and lot 704 (Pierata ex Spice Isle) for $70,000.

“Pierata’s been very good to me and if I can’t back him then who is?” said Hickman.

“I bought the first one because it passed in. It’s out of a More Than Ready mare that produced a horse that won numerous races. He was an athletic type of horse so I went and looked at him to see what we could do and got him for $40,000. He will need a bit of time,”

Of his most expensive purchase of the trio, he said: “When we did our homework on him, he passed all the x-rays and vet. He’s from a strong family out of a winning mare that has produced winners. 

“He had a bit of get-up-and-go about him. He is a nice horse, and everything ticks the boxes with him.”

So, how does Hickman believe they compare with their sire on type?

“I think two of these horses are like him. He (Pierata) was an immature, but athletic horse when I bought him. He did well to get to an early barrier trial. He was a pleasure to have. He had his days when he was as fresh and wild as most colts, but he was push-button. You can see his temperament in them and his eye. That’s what I can see at this stage.”

Hickman is now focused on sourcing investors for these horses.

“It’s all about sell, sell, sell. Sell as much as you can. It’s very important to buy what you like because you might get caught with it. I have backed my judgement and, hopefully, they come out and win races and help us pick up a million bonus if Pierata becomes a leading first-season sire.”

After being broken in by Tim Miller at Bowral, the yearlings will spell before joining Hickman’s boutique string which he says he likes to keep at around 20 horses.

“I just want to keep small and quality and move the ones on that have had their chances. They can’t all be Pieratas.”

He will certainly be hoping there might be one with even half of Pierata’s ability amongst this latest yearling haul.

“You have got to take a big bite and keep chewing, don’t you?”

Pierata currently stands at Aquis Farm for $44,000 (inc. GST) and the Queensland-based operation’s director of sales Jonathan Davies said he was rapt with how his stock had been selling so far this sales season.

“We have been thrilled with how they have sold and been received by the market. They will make their way into the best stables around Australia, and we were particularly pleased to see Greg throw his support behind Pierata by purchasing three of his progeny at the recent Classic sale. He joins Gai and Adrian, Gary Portelli, Annabel Neasham, and Triple Crown to have already purchased multiple Pierata yearlings,” said Davies.

Pierata will be well represented over the coming months with 17 catalogued for the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, six at the Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale, two at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, one at the Magic Millions March Sale on the Gold Coast, and seven at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

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