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By Ray Hickson

A proven record over the mile is what co-trainer Darryn Weatherley can give talented gelding Pier an edge as he tries to lower the boom on Autumn Glow at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Darryn Weatherley (Pic: Trackside).

The mare held a comfortable margin in their only clash, in the Theo Marks three weeks ago, but that was at 1300m and Weatherley said he saw more than enough in that run to say he can be more competitive in the Group 1 $1.5m TAB Epsom Handicap (1600m).

Pier, who has won twice at a mile including a track record at Eagle Farm in June, ran similar sectionals to Autumn Glow for his last 600m and that was a positive sign according to the trainer.

“He was always going to be a bit vulnerable, he looked a bit pretty and we knew that going into it,’’ Weatherley said.

“He was 552kg before he raced in the Theo Marks and he’s tightened up to be 542kg afterwards so he’s right where I want him to be.

“Autumn Glow is obviously very smart and she could be the next big thing. I do believe Pier is a miler and a very good miler. He showed us in the 1300m he’s on the right track.”

Pier, $12 with TAB on Thursday, was kept up to the mark following the Theo Marks with a race day exhibition gallop at Warwick Farm last week.

“It was three weeks between races, we didn’t ask for a hard gallop,’’ Weatherley said.

“We weren’t after time, but he’s a bit of a thinking horse so to go to Warwick Farm and have a track gallop with the speakers going he had a shake and a sweat and a chance to think about things and it just topped him off.”

The Epsom has been a long term target for Weatherley, who co-trains with his daughter Briar, who elected not to send him home to New Zealand after his two start Brisbane winter prep.

He spent a month at Barry Lockwood’s in Beaudesert and has been based with Richard Collett since he arrived in Sydney.

“I’m pleased we left him here, he’s almost speaking like an Aussie now,’’ he said.

The Group 1 winner showed versatility in those two Brisbane runs, a fast closing third behind War Machine at 1350m before his Wayne Wilson Mile win from on top of the speed.

So when Weatherley drew barrier 13 for the six-year-old, while a smaller number wouldn’t have been preferred, he said it’s that ability to adapt he’ll be relying on.

“He’s quite a big striding horse, it’s a 600m run to the first bend so he’s going to be able to get into a rhythm where he’s happy instead of being dictated to,’’ he said.

“Barrier draws aren’t a real concern for me and 14 runners makes it a bit more comfortable.

“When he won the Wayne Wilson at Eagle Farm he went the whole way up the straight stargazing, left in front, and he still ran a track record carrying 59kg.

Pier runs third in the Theo Marks

"If he gets a nice run in transit she’ll know he’s in the race.

“I’ll leave it up to Ethan Brown a bit and see how he begins and what the speed of the race will be.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Epsom meeting at Randwick