Sheikh Mohammed's wonderfully consistent Pied A Terre lost his unbeaten record at his most recent start when second to At The Heads in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington, but he was back on his pedestal at Caulfield on Saturday with a fighting win in the Group II Autumn Stakes (1400m).
Trainer Peter Snowden said he had ruled out a start in the Australia Guineas and hinted the son of Ad Valorem may head up to Sydney.
"At Flemington the other day, he had every chance to run the other horse down," Snowden said.
"Even though it was a good run on paper, I thought it was a tad disappointing. He had lost his ping.
"Having a month between runs is definitely the way to go. Three to four weeks, fresh, and he's a sharper horse."
"He's a pretty talented horse. His form proves that," Snowden said.
"He won't be going to the Guineas but there are other things to look at and we just have to weigh up where we go – here or go back to Sydney."
In earning his first stakes success Pied A Terre becomes the fourth stakes-winner for Darley Stud's Danzig stallion Ad Valorem (USA) (pictured) while taking his overall record to 4 wins and 1 second from 5 starts for earnings of $269,950.
The 3yo gelding is the third foal and second winner from the moderately performed Grand Lodge mare Masonette, a half-sister to Group 3 winner Graceful Encounter (Dr Grace) out of the dual Group 2 winner Shavano Miss.
Masonette was sold by Darley at last year's Easter Broodmare Sale.
Carrying a filly foal by Exceed And Excel, Masonette was purchase by Supreme Thoroughbreds for $48,000. She has an unraced 2yo filly by Commands, a yearling filly by Strategic and was covered by New Approach (Ire) last year.
