Nathan Tinkler’s Patinack Farm has been a sleeping giant in recent months but if the weekend’s results are anything to go by that is about to change.
Head trainer John Thompson produced a two-state stakes race double on Saturday with three-year-old filly Kneeling who won the Listed Crockett Stakes at Moonee Valley and Pane In The Glass who snared the Group Three Silver Shadow Stakes at Warwick Farm.
Patinack has only had a handful of runners in Sydney in recent months although it has been well represented in Brisbane and Adelaide.
But that looks set to change with Pane In The Glass to continue through the four-race Princess Series during the Sydney carnival while Kneeling is heading towards the Group One Thousand Guineas (1600m) in October.
“Kneeling is a lovely filly, we’ve always had a big opinion of her,” Thompson said.
“I rang (winning jockey) Michael Rodd ten days ago when Craig Williams committed to Sydney and he rode Kneeling work once and said he wanted the ride.”
Williams has formed a good association with Patinack Farm and he was aboard Pane In The Glass for her victory at Warwick Farm.
Thompson said he hoped the top hoop would remain a key part of the team.
“He’s a good jockey and I’d like him to ride as many as he can for us,” Thompson said.
“He has committments in Melbourne obviously to a few different horses but hopefully he is able to stay with this filly (Pane In The Glass).”
Seasoned five-year-olds Trusting and Gathering both resumed for Patinack in Saturday’s Group Two Warwick Stakes (1400m) won by Pinwheel finishing fifth and ninth respectively.
Trusting, who won the Warwick Stakes two years ago, was surprisingly up among the early leaders and fought on well while Gathering, who also showed speed, ran out of condition.
“He’s a big, gross horse who gets better with racing,” Thompson said of Gathering who won the Group One Railway Stakes in Perth last November.
Eight-year-old Black Piranha indicated he could still be a force this spring with an eye-catching fourth to Pinwheel and trainer Con Karakatsanis said there was plenty of improvement to come.
“He’s still not right in the coat, there’s a fair bit of improvement there,” Karakatsanis said.
“He’s eight now and he’s looking for a mile (1600m) or further.
“That run will bring him on nicely.”
Black Piranha will head to the Group Two Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 3 ahead of the Group One George Main Stakes (1600m) at the same venue two weeks later.
Chris Waller-trained stayer Hawk Island caught the eye hitting the line late for sixth.
“He got home really well, he’s returned as good as ever,” Waller said.
AAP TURF
