Pierro was bred by Darley from Miss Right Note, an Irish-bred mare whose racing career took her from France to Australia. A daughter of Daylami, she won at Chantilly before being imported and winning again in Sydney. Her mating with Lonhro brought together an established Australian racing line and a European family with considerable middle-distance strength.

There was also a notable family connection behind the pairing. Miss Right Note’s half-brother Laverock, a Group 1 winner in France and Italy, was by Octagonal, the sire of Lonhro. Octagonal had therefore already produced a top-level performer from this maternal family before his grandson Pierro emerged.

Pierro first changed hands at the 2010 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, where David Kobritz bought him from Darley for A$115,000. He was raised at Kobritz’s Musk Creek Farm in Victoria and returned to the sale ring at the 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Gai Waterhouse purchased him for A$230,000 on behalf of Greg and Donna Kolivos. His price had doubled between sales, but it was still a modest investment for a colt who would become an unbeaten juvenile Triple Crown winner and one of Australia’s most sought-after young stallions.

Pierro began directly in stakes company, winning the Listed Breeders’ Plate at Randwick in October 2011. Waterhouse was already identifying him as a Golden Slipper prospect after that debut. Returning in the autumn, he won the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes, then defeated Epaulette in the Group 2 Todman Stakes to arrive at the Golden Slipper unbeaten.

In the Golden Slipper, Nash Rawiller settled him behind the leaders from the inside barrier before pursuing Snitzerland in the straight. Pierro caught her to win by a long neck, with Samaready third. His ability to settle, accelerate and fight through a close finish became a defining feature of his racing.

A week later, he met the previously unbeaten All Too Hard in the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes. All Too Hard started favourite, but Pierro pulled clear to win in race-record time. He then defeated Dear Demi by almost three lengths in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes over 1600 metres, completing Sydney’s juvenile Triple Crown and finishing his two-year-old season unbeaten in six starts.

Pierro retired to Coolmore Australia for the 2013 breeding season. His first crop quickly established that his influence would extend beyond precocious juveniles: Pinot won the VRC Oaks, Levendi won the Australian Derby, and Pierata developed into a Group 1-winning sprinter.

Later performers including Arcadia Queen, Regal Power and Shadow Hero broadened that record. The European stamina in his maternal family found a practical expression in offspring capable of winning over distances beyond those of his own victories. Pierro remains on Coolmore Australia’s stallion roster for the 2026 breeding season.

This Hero's family is waiting to be connected.