High hopes pinned on Pinzalot

Mark Forbes was more than happy to welcome Pinzalot home from Hong Kong.

‘‘We broke him in and, before he came back, Tony Millard told us he was a pretty good horse,’’ the Cambridge horseman said. ‘‘At his first race day start they were pretty confident with him but he struck and bowed his tendon when he jumped out of the gates.’’ The Pins gelding, who will step out in the Landmark Homes 1200 at New Plymouth today, returned to New Zealand to recover. Ten months later he trialled at Te Awamutu before an impressive first-up success at Tauranga. He beat Galloping Gerte, who has since won two races and on Boxing Day she will attempt to add the Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic to her record.

In one subsequent appearance, Pinzalot finished third at Riccarton after suffering interference in the closing 50 metres.

‘‘I’m still scratching my head how he didn’t get put up to second – he was lucky to stay on his feet,’’ Forbes said.

‘‘He’s pretty good and if we can get his rating points up we might look at the NRM Sprint with him.’’

Pinzalot will be accompanied to New Plymouth by his stablemate Smart Bronson, who will debut in the Revital Fertilisers Maiden provided he gets conditions to suit.

‘‘He’s a nice horse and a typical Smart Missile – he needs a track like concrete, he’s better galloping on State Highway One,’’ Forbes said.