Pinot gets the bubbles

IT is the Group 1 Gai Waterhouse has wanted for more than 20 years and yesterday the first lady of racing banked the $1 million Kennedy Oaks with fancied filly Pinot at Flemington.

The three-year-old daughter of champion sire Pierro outlasted rivals to claim the 2500m major from Bring Me Roses and Hiyaam and Luva- luva. Odds-on favourite Aloisia was a spent force halfway down the straight after being strung out three-and-four wide early and overracing in patches.

But Stephen Baster, who has formed a formidable combination this spring with the Waterhouse-Adrian Bott stable, rated Pinot perfectly despite bombing the start.

“Absolutely unbelievable,” Baster said.

“She went up in the air from the gates and lost two lengths.

“But she switched off and relaxed, so I went to plan B and went round them.

“It went against everything I’ve been taught as a jockey, but we got an easy half mile and when they came, I knew we still had some gears left. “She’s just a dead-set star.” Baster has ridden eight winners for Waterhouse and Bott since Caulfield Guineas day including a double on Melbourne Cup Day.

Waterhouse beamed postrace in the mounting yard, praising the veteran jockey.

“I’ve never won it before, it’s so exciting, so exciting,” 133time Group 1-winning trainer Waterhouse said.

She and Bott have enjoyed tremendous success since joining forces last year with three Group 1s following Global Glamour’s wins in the 2016 Flight Stakes and Thousand Guineas.

But $200,000 yearling Pinot could be the pick of the yard, with the ATC Australian Oaks and Caulfield Cup possible targets.

Fancied filly Luvaluva loomed dangerously but was unable to sustain the run.

Bring Me Roses and Hiyaam closed late when the race was won as pacemakers Rimraam and Aloisia faded.