Jockey Damian Browne missed the major part of the winter carnival through suspension but made up for it at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Browne was in outstanding form and notched a winning treble when he rode a brilliant tactical race to win the Group Three Healy Stakes (1200m) on Pinwheel.
Locked in amongst horses at the 400m, Browne showed great nerve not to panic.
He waited patiently and eventually a gap appeared between runners and Pinwheel showed outstanding acceleration to dart through.
Metallurgical had secured what looked a winning break at the 200m but Pinwheel quickly wound him in and scored by three-quarters of a length.
“I was following Buffering and Temple Of Boom, but halfway up the straight it was apparent they were going nowhere,” Browne said.
“Finally the gap came and he picked up in a couple of strides, it was a terrific effort to get going so quickly, he’s not a bad horse.”
Brown was the punter’s pin-up.
He won the first race on Mystical Grey ($3.90), the fourth on Excellantes ($4.60 fav) and Pinwheel was also $2.90 favourite.
Trainer Peter Snowden said he would continue to dodge the top grade with Pinwheel, who finished second in the Healy Stakes last year behind Hay List.
“The key to him is to pick your mark,” Snowden said.
“We dodge the A-grade with him and aim up in the B-grade and he gets the cash and little fish are sweet.
“He’ll go back home now and there’s a couple of races at Caulfield in about five weeks which should suit him nicely.
“He doesn’t need a lot of work and is an easy horse to train.”
Jockey Scott Galloway said Metallurgical was gallant in defeat and paid the price for having a month between runs.
Galloway had Pinwheel in a pocket at the 400m and dashed to the lead, but said his horse felt the pinch late.
“He had enough about the last 50 metres but was not disgraced. The winner looks good and it was my horse’s first step up in grade,” he said.
Swiss Rose ($21) flashed home to finish third another half-length away.
Robert Heathcote’s racing manager Mel Leitch said Buffering, who finished fourth, would have a break and return for races in Sydney in September.
AAP TURF
