Pinstriped has been a good money spinner for trainer Enver Jusufovic and connections and now it may be the time the gelding can go to another level.
Now a six-year-old, Pinstriped has won six times in his 21 starts and collected just shy of $1.2 million in prize money, and Jusufovic believes the gelding is now finally furnished.
Jusufovic hopes that will pay a dividend on Saturday when Pinstriped resumes in the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Pinstriped has previously been thwarted by niggling back ailments, but a break following one run in the autumn allowed the gelding to get over those niggles and fill out his frame.
“He’s just physically matured as a horse now and he’s finally filled out that body,” Jusufovic said.
“His action is super, and I was happy with his gallop on Tuesday, and he goes into this race fit.
“I think going into Group races you must have them reasonably fit, and they generally improve with a race under their belt.
“I’m extremely happy with him and he’s in a good frame of mind.”
Pinstriped ran second to Mr Brightside in last year’s P B Lawrence before going on to win the Group 2 Feehan Stakes at Moonee Valley.
That victory secured Pinstriped a start in the Cox Plate in which he finished 11th behind Romantic Warrior.
Jusufovic has not put in stone a program for Pinstriped this year but is looking towards a potential start in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield in October, a race he finished fifth in last year.
“The programming this year is a lot better if you want to keep around the mile,” he said.
“I’ve got more races on a regular basis that I can choose from, rather than last prep.
“I’ll see how he goes with each run and there could be a second tier there, away from Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside and those horses, if that’s the path I want to take.
“The Toorak is a goal, but I’m not putting all my eggs in one basket.
“In the past he has performed well early in his campaign and then his form tapered off, but I think it’s more circumstantial with the back hurting and his spring has been below par, but we’re hoping now that he’s a lot stronger, physically, he can be consistent for a lot longer.”
Some rain is forecast for Caulfield on Friday and Saturday which is music to Jusufovic’s ears.
“It would be good to get a bit of rain on Saturday,” Jusufovic said.
“Originally, they did forecast a bit, so we’ll see what happens, but he’s well equipped on a good track as well.”
