Trainer Enver Jusufovic said he feels like the boy from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory with the ‘Golden Ticket’ after the win of Pinstriped at Moonee Valley.
Pinstriped earned himself a start in next month’s Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) with his win in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) on Saturday.
“It’s like winning the Golden Ticket,” Jusfvovic said.
“I feel like I’m on that Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory movie.”
Ridden by Ben Allen, Pinstriped ($8) held off a late charge from Attrition ($7) to score by a short-half-head with Tuvalu ($4) a further three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
“It’s a big credit to the staff,” Jusufovic said.
“This horse has always had the ability, but I just had to manage him properly and it all sort of came to fruition in the Golden Eagle,
“He run last there but when he came back, he was a train wreck and then last prep it took a few runs to get him fit.
“I had different processes with him and then when he had a month off after that last prep he just came back super.
“He’s just a horse with plenty of talent.”
Jusufovic said he had felt the pressure with Pinstriped throughout his career after the gelding won his first three starts and then finished fifth, at his fourth start, in the Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington.
Some big offers were knocked back from Hong Kong for Pinstriped, adding to Jusufovic’s pressure.
“I don’t think he would’ve been suited that part of the world but it’s great for Ben,” Jusufovic said.
“I’ve always had faith in him, ever since I said he’d never make it. We go a long way back, he’s matured into a good rider and a terrific DJ now and he’s had a few good rides on this horse.”
Pinstriped is yet to be tested at 2000m but Allen says the gelding will have no problems running it.
“We tried him once at 1800 (metres) and he should’ve won, but I got too far back,” Allen said.
“I think he started this prep with no grand finals in mind, but they’ve got a free entry into the Cox Plate, so I guess he’s got a grand final now.”
The $3.20 favourite Globe barely crossed the line finishing a long last.
Racing Victoria stewards said the gelding, who was unbeaten in his four starts leading into Saturday’s contest, pulled up with cardiac arrhythmia and will require a vet’s clearance before racing again.
