Connections of Grand Pierro after winning the Bagot Handicap at Flemington Racecourse on January 01, 2025 in Flemington, Australia. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos)
After their bargain buy won the first Stakes race of 2025, the owners of Grand Pierro are dreaming of a return to Flemington on the first Tuesday in November.
‘GP’, as he is affectionately known by his motley crew of owners, took his career earnings past the $500,000 mark courtesy of his determined win in the Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day.
Victory continued his purple patch of form during the summer months but, perhaps more importantly, the son of Pierro’s fourth career win – and first at Stakes grade – also saw him pass the qualifying clause for the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Grand Syndicates has built its business on buying horses at the lower end of the market to provide an affordable entry level to racehorse ownership, with Group 1 hero Behemoth – a meagre $6,000 purchase – becoming their pin-up boy when he won 10 races and more than $3 million in prizemoney.
At $50,000, Grand Pierro was comparatively expensive but the five-year-old has taken his big ownership group – drawn from right across the country – on a journey none of them will forget, particularly if it culminates in a start in ‘the race that stops a nation’.
Despite their success, Grand Syndicates’ distinctive black and gold colours have never been worn in a Melbourne Cup, but the company’s Racing Manager Steve Leoni is hoping GP can continue his rise up the ratings and secure a start in Australian racing’s most coveted contest.
“This group are not just owners, but have become the best of friends on the journey with GP,” said Leoni.
“He took them to the Victorian Derby at his fifth start after winning the Geelong Classic, and from there the lifelong friendships were forged. A couple of away days in Tassie with him were huge fun for all, and New Year’s Day was one giant outpouring of emotion amongst friends after the win.
“A decent number of gnarly and well-seasoned older guys definitely had something in their eyes post-race, they simply love this horse and their joy was because GP had got another deserved win under his belt.
“Getting a run in the Melbourne Cup would now be the ultimate. If we were to ask our entire ownership group what race would they like to have a runner in, it would always be the Melbourne Cup winning the poll.”
Whilst having a runner in the Cup would undoubtedly elevate Grand Syndicates’ brand, it wouldn’t alter their main aim – to bring together a cross-section of people for a fun day at the races.
“GP is the epitome of Grand Syndicates, and what we hope to achieve,” said Leoni.
“We gather racing lovers from all walks of life together to simply enjoy the sport we all adore. Our ownership groups are widely diverse in terms of gender, age and careers, but they all share an overriding love for the horse and racing.
“One owner in GP lives in South Australia, he heads over for every run and one time he even slept in his car overnight to attend a jump out the following morning! We also have a couple of serious winemakers in the horse, so celebrating a win is always lots of fun.”
Leoni has been involved in the racing caper for more than three decades, and whilst the industry may have changed dramatically in that time – particularly in terms of the prizemoney on offer – one thing that will never change is the jubilation of seeing your horse flash past the post first.
“The euphoria of winning a race is indescribable,” he said.
“Even after 35 years of owning racehorses, it still feels as if time stands still when that moment of realisation hits that your charge is home. I’ll never tire of it, and at Grand we want to deliver that exact feeling to as many people as we can.
“Syndication has been a gift to horse racing for allowing so many ‘ordinary’ people to enjoy the greatest sport on earth. My advice for prospective owners would be to go with somebody who has had proven success, and always try to spread your interest across a couple of shares if your budgets allow. That way you spread the fun and also the risk.
“At Grand, we operate with a fixed monthly cost fee which allows our owners to approach ownership with the confidence of affordability. The overriding message from me would be thinking about owing a racehorse will never get you into the winner’s enclosure – just do it, and you will have a ball.”
For more information on Grand Syndicates, head here.