Widden Stud’s Trapeze Artist has enjoyed an exceptional run of stakes success over the summer and featured again at Randwick on Saturday when his quality four year-old mare Pinito took out the Group III ATC Aspiration Quality (1600m).
Godolphin don’t buy many yearlings at Australian sales, but one that did take their fancy at Inglis Easter in 2023 was a $260,000 Trapeze Artist filly they purchased from Widden Stud and she is Pinito.
She closed out her three year-old season with a second in the Group I BRC Queensland Oaks after winning the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet and is now in the hands of Chris Waller.
Pinito was second up from a spell on Saturday and enjoyed the step up to 1600m to power clear and win by half a length with James McDonald in the saddle.
“She has taken a little bit of time to find her new home and settle in. Her first-up run was very good and now today’s win was also good. It’s great to get winners for any owners, but Godolphin is obviously very special,” said Chris Waller, who till target further Black Type races for Pinito over the carnival.
“She showed good form in a Queensland Oaks as a three-year-old so if we can gradually get her up in distance that will be a good plus.
“The Epona (G3) would be perfect. Her first-up run was excellent. We even thought about running her in a Coolmore (G1), but she had a long time off and she was second-up so we decided to take the easy steps.”
Pinito is nothing if not consistent and from 13 starts has three wins and nine placings netting over $485,000 in prizemoney.
Bred by the Vieira Group, Pinito is the best of three winners from Waltzing Wodka, a winning half-sister by Sebring to Group II winners Zloties, Seaburge and Catch a Fire from the family of Group I winners La Volta and Mighty Boss.
Waltzing Wodka has been married to Trapeze Artist and was never covered by another stallion. She sadly died last year and her final foals are a yearling filly that sold for $100,000 at Inglis Premier last week to Proven Thoroughbreds / Hayfields Racing and a weanling filly.
Pinito is the eighth stakes-winner in Australia this season for Trapeze Artist.
