The outside barrier for Cox Plate winner Pinker Pinker wasn’t in the script for trainer Greg Eurell but it hasn’t dented his confidence ahead of Saturday’s Chipping Norton Stakes.
Pinker Pinker is due to arrive in Sydney on Friday morning ahead of the Group One Chipping Norton (1600m) at Warwick Farm, where the mare will jump from the outside gate in a field of nine.
The Chipping Norton has seven Group One winners in the field and after watching the four-year-old go about her work on Wednesday morning at Cranbourne, Eurell can’t wait to get to Sydney with Pinker Pinker.
“Regardless of the size of the field you always prefer to draw in a touch,” Eurell said.
“Nine out of nine is not ideal but it’s not disastrous and I’m sure once I’ve had a chat to Blake (Shinn) we’ll be able to work out a game plan.
“We won’t divert from what we believe is her comfortable pattern.
“I’m not too concerned about the draw. With that amount of horses, even though smaller fields can sometimes be tricky, if they roll along a bit it should give her a chance to get into an OK spot.”
Pinker Pinker resumed in the Group One Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 25 with a pleasing second to star New Zealand galloper King Mufhasa.
Pinker Pinker is no stranger to Sydney racing having been placed in the Australian Oaks and Epsom Handicap last year, and Eurell is confident the mare has made the necessary improvement from her first-up performance to make her presence felt on Saturday.
“She did her final bit of work this morning and I was very, very happy with what she did,” the trainer said.
“Her recovery was good, her fitness levels are nice and all things being equal she’s exactly where I want her to be for this race.
“She did her big bit of work on Monday morning and this morning was just a top-up to have her where we want her for Saturday.
“She worked over 1200 metres and finished off the last 400 metres. She’ll go up to Sydney in very good order.”
TAB Sportsbet installed Pinker Pinker as the $2.80 favourite for the Chipping Norton ahead of the Chris Waller-trained Shoot Out at $3.20.
Last year’s winner Danleigh is on the third line of betting at $6 just ahead of Trusting ($6.50) who won the Warwick Stakes at the track last spring.
Dual Group One winners Sacred Choice and Rangirangdoo are both at $15.
Rangirangdoo was nosed out in the Chipping Norton Stakes by Theseo two years ago.
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