Pierro confirmed the dedication and tenacity needed to win a Golden Slipper with a preventing victory in Saturday’s Group Two Todman Stakes at Rosehill.

Pierro ($ two.05 fav) was clearly headed in the straight by Black Opal winner Epaulette ($ fourteen) but responded beneath Nash Rawiller above the concluding levels to beat the Darley-owned colt by a quick half-head.

The pair spaced the rest of the Todman area with Shelford ($ seven.50) finishing the race off well to be 2-3/4 lengths away 3rd.

“He’s a really challenging horse,” trainer Gai Waterhouse said.

“He is really everything you are hunting for in the two-calendar year-previous.

“He was crushed two times in the straight there but he’s just an fantastic colt.”

Pierro’s stirring triumph stored his unbeaten file intact heading into the $ three.five million Golden Slipper (1200m) on April 7.

The son of Lonhro won the Listed Breeders Plate on debut before returning with one more sturdy triumph in the Team Two Silver Slipper Stakes before this thirty day period.

Waterhouse has won the Golden Slipper on three events but Rawiller will be chasing his very first and believes he has the appropriate horse heading into the showpiece.

“He is a ripper, isn’t really he,” Rawiller stated.

“Kerrin (McEvoy on Epaulette) acquired to me pretty rapid and place a prolonged neck on him and caught him a little bit by shock,” Rawiller said.

“I knew he was coming but I don’t believe he fairly knew.

“Having the blinkers on it wasn’t till he caught sight of it that he received himself ready for a dogfight.

“It was a wonderful hard work and I could not be happier likely into the Slipper. He is appropriate on track.”

McEvoy and Epaulette’s coach Peter Snowden seen the stewards’ footage after the race as the two colts got near collectively in direction of the line.