Four from Nine and off to Queensland

Dual group winner Pinmedown (3 f Pins – Alleyway, by Oregon) cemented her trip to the Queensland Winter Carnival with an assertive victory in the $25,000 3YO 1600 metres on Saturday at the Cambridge Jockey Club meeting at Te Rapa.

Co-trainer Pam Gerard had been pleased with the way Pinmedown had freshened after fighting hard off a wide trip in the NZ Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) at Trentham, and dropping back to a mile was ideal 42 days since last racing.

“She has really blossomed and her coat looks amazing”, Gerard said. “Her work was super on Tuesday morning and using this race in preparation for her departure on 3 May to Brisbane, I knew a run up to her work would see her right in it.”

Steadied off the gate to settle seventh on the inner, Pinmedown stood the leader five lengths at the 600m, but the patience and guile of rider Cameron Lammas saw her seize on a rails run at the 300m and she had matters sewn up after quickening through to lead.

On Dead4 footing, Pinmedown ran the 1600 metres in 1:37.1, last 600m in 36.5, and shortened on the NZ TAB fixed odds from $3.00 to close at $2.20. The race was sponsored by Maara Grange Rehabilitation and Fencing.

Winner of the Eight Carat Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m) on Boxing Day and solid in both the Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) and $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Restricted Listed, 1600m), Pinmedown continued her liking for the Ellerslie course with an impressive victory in the Sunline Vase (Gr. 3, 2100m) on 2 March, while her only previous start at Te Rapa was a close fifth.

“She’s been good all season and a few unlucky runs along the way probably should have seen her win a couple more,” Gerard said. “It was good to see her have a let up and come back just as well.

“Cameron (Lammas) never panics and we love having him on. He knows this filly well and did all the early education on her. He rode her at Ruakaka in her first start and said this is one of the best ones I’ve ridden for a wee while.”

Cameron Lammas said: “She did that nicely and she’s a classy filly, and I finally got back on her. I’ve always said to Pam that I quite liked her and she’s proved to be a good filly and getting better and better.”

Selected by Paul Moroney and purchased for $28,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale, from the draft of Ardsley Stud, Pinmedown is owned by Savvy Racing Blues Syndicate (Mgr: Keith McDonald), Lois & Mike Wilson, Noel Gurney, Richard Sims, Adrian Mathieson, Rob Alderson, Ken & Bev Cherry, and Ballymore New Zealand, and now won four of her nine starts.

“Paul Moroney goes to the sales and buys these really nice fillies,” Gerard said. “Mike (Moroney) and Paul love their staying fillies and when they’ve got the class to do that over a mile they’re only going to get better.”

Pinmedown is due to fly on Friday 3 May to Brisbane, with her first race in the $200,000 The Roses (Gr. 2, 2000m) on Saturday 18 May at Doomben.

A filly with ever increasing value, Pinmedown is a three-quarter sister to Hong Kong Horse of the Year (twice) Ambitious Dragon (Pins), who won 13 races, including six Group One, and the equivalent of NZ$10.9 million in prize money. While their sire, Pins (Snippets), was twice crowned Champion Sire in Hong Kong, largely due to the feats of Ambitious Dragon.

The dam side of the family has left some very talented and classy performers. Obviously Ambitious Dragon, but also stakes winning mares Roxon (Postponed), Delightful (Omnicorp), and the very good producer Sky Mist (Sky Chase).

Pinmedown was strapped by Sher Singh Rathore.