Win, lose for apprentice
NZ RACING DESK
Promising apprentice Wiremu Pinn experienced the ups and downs of the thoroughbred racing game at Wanganui on Saturday with a winning double on the day tempered by a careless riding suspension that will cost him some time on the side-lines.
Pinn copped the seven riding days’ suspension for his effort on mare Art Deco who he guided to success over 1200m in the third race on the card.
Settled on the fence in the early stages of the race, Art Deco travelled comfortably before running into a pocket behind the leaders approaching the home bend. Pinn extricated the Road To Rock mare into clear running at the 450m mark, in the process hampering the third-placed Shadows Cast, before charging clear to win comfortably.
Trained by Pinn’s boss, Allan Sharrock, Art Deco has the Gr.3 Boehringer Ingelheim 1550 at Awapuni next weekend on her radar and looks on target for a bold performance.
“She’s flying at the moment and it was a great ride by the kid . . . He got off the fence rather than getting pocketed and showed a bit of maturity so I’m really happy.
“It was a nice run to get her ready for the metric mile at Awapuni. I’ve only backed her up once before and she won so that’s the plan.”
Pinn was again in the thick of the action three races later when he struck success on durable mare Strolling Vagabond in the open 2040m event.
In virtually a carbon copy version of his ride on Art Deco, Pinn hugged the rail throughout before easing into the clear at the 600m mark. Strolling Vagabond quickly claimed the lead in the run home and kept up a powerful gallop to register her eighth career victory.
Trainer Gerald Innes said the horse is a consistent performer.
“I was thrilled with the ride by the young fella as it was the winning of the race. He rode her a treat.”
■ The Gr.3 Rich Hill Stud Taranaki Breeders Stakes (1400m) will be run at Ha¯wera on October 13.