Pierre Grosse
Hoseki was the obvious eye-catcher from the Shergar Cup Classic at Ascot on Saturday, and she did do well to get as close as she did from the rear off a sedate pace, but Pierre Grosse did well too from back in the field. He and Hoseki raced in second last and last places respectively from early, and Pierre Grosse was actually last of all around the home turn, but he picked up well in the home straight, he was fastest of all through the third last and second last furlongs, before those exertions probably took their toll and his run flattened out through the final furlong.
He hasn't managed to win yet, but he has been knocking on the door of late. He finished second behind Madbadanddangerous in the Ulster Derby in June, and that horse followed up at Galway next time off a 6lb higher mark. He is now 13lb higher than he was then. And on his last run before Saturday, Pierre Grosse finished second behind the exciting Tokyo Tower at The Curragh, and time may prove that that was a really good run.
This was his ninth run, but he ran well enough to suggest that he remains a well-handicapped horse on a mark of 85. Jessica Harrington's horse obviously handles this fast ground, but it may be that he is a better horse with some cut in the ground, he handles soft ground well in the Ulster Derby, and perhaps he will be more effective over 10 or 11 furlongs than over 12 or 13.
Ascot, 8th August 2026
Back