In a stable known for producing young up-and-comers, seven-year-old Pinwheel is a rarity but also a star as he demonstrated with his Group Three win in the Missile Stakes.
Trained at Saturday’s race venue, Warwick Farm, by Peter Snowden for Sheikh Mohammed, Pinwheel gave his rivals a lesson in the weight-for-age sprint.
Pinwheel gave his rivals a lesson in the weight-for-age sprint. - Photo by Steve Hart
Nine of Pinwheel’s 11 wins have been over 1200m and the firm track helped his cause as he powered away from Centennial Park to win by 1-3/4 lengths.
“It was a dominant ride by Kerrin (McEvoy) and he surprised me by how well he went to the line,” Snowden said.
“He is a great horse and a real favourite in the stable.
“Every campaign he delivers and he is a proven weight-for-age horse.
“I’m just so happy to see him win and this will get him ready for the Warwick Stakes in a couple of weeks.”
Punters relied on Pinwheel’s consistency and sent him out the $2.50 favourite.
McEvoy said he was confident throughout the race.
“Pete’s got him worked out and he really powered the last bit, even after the line,” he said.
“He’s a great horse and enjoys his racing.”
Centennial Park is another dependable seven-year-old who sits just below Group One level.
“The best two weight-for-age horses finished one-two,” his trainer David Payne said.
“Centennial Park keeps coming up season after season.”
Payne said Centennial Park would also head to the Group Two Warwick Stakes (1400m) in two weeks where several of Sydney’s spring Cups contenders are likely to kick-off their campaigns.
Neither Snowden nor Payne have lofty ambitions for their charges but say both have shown they are still competitive.
“Pinwheel had issues early on,” Snowden said.
“His joints haven’t been the best but we have staff who take care of them.
“That’s the key, being able to manage these horses.
“He isn’t the sort of horse that needs a spell. We just keep him ticking over in the stable and fresh for racing.
“I don’t think he’s a Group One horse except maybe in a handicap but he’s a wonderful horse to have.”
Pinwheel’s win took his earning to more than $975,000 with Snowden keen to get him to the $1 million milestone.
Despite wet weather in many parts of Sydney, the Warwick Farm meeting was run on a good two track with strong winds helping to keep it dry.
