Pier set for stable return

Darryn and Briar Weatherley’s Group One winner Pier is set to make a welcome return to their Matamata stable at the start of next month following a wind operation.

The six-year-old son of Proisir had made a pleasing return over summer, finishing runner-up in the G1 Otaki Maori WFA Classic at Ellerslie in February before finishing a distant last in the G1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes at the Auckland track on Champions Day.

A vet exam revealed a slight abnormality on the left side of his larynx and he subsequently underwent a tie-back operation to resolve the issue.

“He had tie-back surgery after his last run at Ellerslie. He is in rehab now and he is recovering well,” Briar Weatherley said. “We are really happy with him and he is looking to get back into the stable on June 1, so we are looking forward to getting him back.”

While the Weatherleys are looking forward to Pier’s imminent return, they are excited to kick-off the career of his full-brother Aventus in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1200m) at Matamata on Wednesday.

The two-year-old colt impressed the father-daughter partnership when winning his trial over 850m at Te Awamutu last month, and Weatherley said he is showing signs he has inherited the family talent, with the youngster also being a half-brother to Group Three winner Maria Farina.

“He has been a nice colt right from the start and has promised a lot,” Weatherley said. “I think he reeks of natural family ability.

“I am looking forward to kicking him off on Wednesday and I am sure whatever he does he is only going to improve going into next prep.”