Warren hunts stop-over win in Newcastle after grand plan falls short

3 months ago 23

By Craig Kerry

November 13, 2025 — 6.17pm

From a luckless campaign to make the Melbourne Cup to a shot at the Perth Cup, Jason Warren-trained Grand Pierro has somehow landed on the $300,000 The Beauford (2300m) at Newcastle on Saturday.

And his Mornington-based trainer is confident the six-year-old gelding can give him a stop-over victory in the listed staying feature.

Grand Pierro ridden by Zac Spain wins the Bagot Handicap at Flemington on January 1.

Grand Pierro ($5 TAB) was vying with John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Maison Louis and Ciaron Maher-prepared Future History for favouritism in the Beauford, which has been on Newcastle’s standalone program since 2021 but became a listed event only last year, when Toowoomba galloper Nikau Spur won.

Warren is attempting his own long-distance run at the race after Grand Pierro was a late scratching from the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on Saturday when the track deteriorated into the heavy range after consistent showers.

After falling short of a Melbourne Cup start with Grand Pierro, Warren was planning a trip to Western Australia for the January 1 group 2 Perth Cup (2400m). Keen for another lead-up run after missing out on Saturday, he quickly turned his sights to the Beauford.

Grand Pierro ridden by Craig Williams (far left) soars to victory in the Geelong Classic.

Grand Pierro was fifth, two and a half lengths away, last start in the group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2400m) on October 24. Before that, he was eighth in the Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington and third in the Naturalism (2000m) at Caulfield.

That form against quality opposition, a handy draw in gate six, the booking of local jockey Ash Morgan and the prospect of a fast surface have Warren confident Grand Pierro can figure in the finish.

“The horse is airborne and was unlucky not to earn a spot in the Melbourne Cup really,” Warren said.

“I don’t think he could have won, but he could have got a run in it if he had won one of the lead ups. He was unlucky in the Moonee Valley Cup and he never got out in the Bart Cummings before that.

“The horse is going very well, he’s a lightweight chance and the reason why I looked up there at Newcastle is because he flies to Perth on Monday out of Sydney, so given we got washed out at Flemington - he doesn’t like the wet tracks - I said to the connections, we’re flying from Sydney on Monday, so this can be his lead-up run.

“Our horse gets in good at the weights and with a local on, I think we’re in with a really good chance on Saturday.”

Grand Pierro will be Warren’s first runner at Newcastle, but he has strong links to NSW racing. He has trained in Victoria for 25 years but grew up in Bega on the South Coast and had his first group 1 success in 2013 when Bel Sprinter claimed The Galaxy at Rosehill.

By chance, he visited Newcastle on other business a month ago and took the chance to check out the track at Broadmeadow.

“It’s a lovely big track with a long straight and I think it will suit our horse,” he said.

“I think it’s a great region … If the club ever build new stables there on track, I’d love to have stables there. I do bring horses up [to NSW] when I get the chance. I’m no stranger to travelling horses. We’ve had a bit of luck in Adelaide, so travelling horses is no worry if we go for the right races.”

Grand Pierro has performed well away from home, finishing top three in the Adelaide and Hobart Cups.