Rock Spur, Pinyarda earn chances in Brisbane
RACING TOLGA jockey Stephen Wilson is confident Rock Spur and Pinyarda are capable of claiming bigger spoils in the big smoke after riding both to impressive wins at Cluden Park in Townsville yesterday.
Six-year-old Rock Spur ($2.60 fav) won his fifth race in his last six outings by pipping Confronting ($3.60) and SnapYOU py Legend ($3.70) in the Class 6 Plate over 1200m.
The Samantha Molinotrained gelding sat toward the back off the field before running down the leaders, despite suffering some interference heading into the straight.
Irish hoop Wilson backed up in the next race to lead Roy Chillemi-trained Pinyarda ($4.40) to an easy two-and-aquarter length win over Green Anchor ($5.50) in the Open Handicap over 1300m. Green Anchor attempted to steal the race by setting a cracking pace early, but Pinyarda sat just off the pace before showing too much class in the final furlong.
Both horses will head to Brisbane for their next assignment, with a decision to be made on what races they target after they travel down.
Wilson is Chillemi’s stable rider and will also ride Tyzone and Grey Missile in Brisbane.
“We’ve got four very nice horses going down, all last start winners so we’re hoping all of them can win a race down there,” Wilson said.
“Rock Spur got a bit messy (yesterday) on the turn and got knocked by two horses inside and out. To pick himself back up and fight on the way he did was very good, and he’ll only improve off that once he gets to 1400m.
“He deserves a chance (in the city), he keeps winning so we’ll have a crack.”
Pinyarda delivered an outstanding performance to destroy the opposition in an ideal build-up before heading to Brisbane.
“I thought he was back close to his best. With the speed on we were worried first up over 1300 but the race turned out super, and he really let down like we knew he could. It didn’t come as a great surprise.”