Pierro 5/2 to win the Cox Plate when he should be 1/5

Pierro may have suffered two bits of bad news in the build up to the Cox Plate, but punters should not be put off what looks like one of the bets of the year that he returns to winning ways.

Less than two weeks ago, the world was the oyster of Pierro, having won all eight of his racecourse starts, including the two-year-old Triple Crown.

Another win seemed certain in the Caulfield Guineas, where he was sent off as the shortest-priced favourite in the race’s history at 1/5.

However, a chain of events transpired against him that day, including getting caught in the stalls and then poor jockey tactics from Nash Rawiller.

Pierro was virtually sprinting up the unforgiving Caulfield hill after missing the break, which cost him too much energy ahead of the home straight, while he was not given any cover either.

All things considered, he did well to go down by less than a length and it is slightly unbelievable that he can be backed at 5/2 to win the Cox Plate.

This price would have arguably been close to 1/5 again if he would have maintained his unbeaten record in the Caulfield Guineas.

The other possible negative is that Craig Williams will not be taking the ride, but punters should not see this as a negative as he has opted to board Green Moon instead because the racing weight made more sense.

Another plus for Pierro has come in the draw, as he will race from stall seven in the Cox Plate.

Stall seven has provided 11 career Cox Plate winners, more than any other stall, and was where So You Think raced from when landing the spoils in 2009.

A step up in trip to 1m2f for the first time should suit Pierro, as he bids to become only the fourth ever three-year-old winner of the race.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.