Easter Cup on Persan's Radar

Ciaron Maher and David Eustace's 4YO entire Persan (Pierro-Ofcourseican, by Mossman) is one of the most consistent horses going around at the moment, with the son of Golden Slipper winner Pierro having had 12 starts since transferring into the Maher/Eustace stable just over 12 months ago. He has won seven, placing four times, and the only other start was a solid fifth in the Gr1 Melbourne Cup! Not really bred to be a Cup runner, Persan and his connections have their sights firmly on the 2021 Melbourne Cup and there is no reason to think he can't add Saturday's Gr3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caufield to his haul as he races towards the first Tuesday in November. Speaking of the Melbourne Cup, 2019 winner Vow and Declare (Declaration of War-Geblizt, by Testa Rossa) will carry top weight in Saturday's race, while last start Listed Bendigo Mile runner-up Platoon (Playing God-Oreil, by Oratorio) for Neville Parnham, currently the second favourite, looks a strong chance of running well. A $160,000 purchase by James Bester Bloodstock at the 2017 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, Persan was passed in at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale the following year for $300,000. Persan is out of the Gr1 Coolmore Classic winner Ofcourseican (Mossman-Yes She Can Cancan, by Canny Lad) herself a half-sister to the Australian bred, and South African Champion first season sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready), whose South African-bred son and Group 1 winner Yulong Price will stand his first season at stud this year at Yulong Farm in Victoria.

Pursan is a close relation to Gimmethegreenlight