Lord Pyrus’ Australian Cup campaign took a strong step forward on Saturday as an impressive performance secured him the $125,000 Group 3 Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield.

Trained by Judy Mawer out of Cranbourne, Lord Pyrus (Pyrus x Eminent Walk) jumped brilliantly from his wide gate and went straight to the lead where he settled beautifully. Railing well into the straight, the five-year-old justified his favouritism, holding a comfortable two length lead to the post, with the dual Group 1 winner Scenic Shot (Scenic) among those in his wake.

Only lightly raced, the son of Pyrus has only had 16 starts for five wins and eight placings and has earned over A$170,000 in stakes. Winning over distances from 1300 to 1800 metres, yesterday’s Group 3 win was Lord Pyrus’ first start at stakes level.

Bred by Pencarrow Stud, Lord Pyrus’ dam is Eminent Walk (Gaius), a half-sister to the stakes winner Classic Walk, and the dam of seven foals to race for six winners including the Group 3 placed Darcybee (Fasliyev) and Listed winner Tehama (Centaine). His grand-dam is the stakes winner Sharp Walk who is out of the Golden Slipper winner Fairy Walk. It is also the family of the NZ 1998 Champion Sprinter-Miler Coogee Walk.

Lord Pyrus was bought by Miss JI Prangley from Pencarrow Stud from New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2006 National Weanling Sale for only $6,000. He was later reoffered at the NZB Ready to Run Sale where he was purchased by Liam Sutcliffe Holdings for $45,000.

Eminent Walk’s unnamed two-year-old colt by Fast n Famous was bought as a yearling from Karaka last year by Brad Spicer for $80,000.

Lord Pyrus is currently a $51 chance for the Australian Cup with the Victorian TAB.