Top jockey Craig Williams has emerged as Gai Waterhouse's first choice to partner Pierro in the Cox Plate in which the star colt will carry just 49.5kg.
Waterhouse put many of her spring hopefuls, including More Joyous, through their paces in barrier trials at Randwick on Monday but elected to keep Pierro at home with an exhibition gallop scheduled for Saturday.
She said the colt was in peak condition ahead of his campaign aimed at October's A$3 million Cox Plate.
"We're hoping to get Craig Williams," Waterhouse said.
Unbeaten in six starts as a 2-year-old, including the coveted group one triple crown, Pierro has the Caulfield Guineas and Cox Plate as his two spring objectives.