Given a freshen up since her effort in the G1 ATC Queen of the Turf Stakes in April, the Chris Waller trained Pinito achieved her second G3 level success, and third black type win overall, winning the $200,000 G3 BRC Magic Millions Fillies And Mares Mile (1600m) at Doomben on Saturday.
A winner of the G3 Aspiration Quality a few starts back, the daughter of Trapeze Artist has a liking for her trips to Queensland, having won the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet before to a narrow second in the G1 QLD Oaks last season.
One of four runners under double figure odds behind the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained race favourite Tomato Toastie, Pinito had the services of James McDonald with the pair jumping away from barrier 2.
Drifting back to a mid-field position after a slightly slow jump from the barriers, McDonald allowed the mare to settle where comfortable with 200/1 chance Aratiri leading the Rachel King ridden Exotique Miss.
Approaching the home turn, Brad Widdup’s Hyperbolic (NZ) was presenting herself down the outside as a leading contender while McDonald was coming off her heels to make a challenge.
With the pair racing away at the 100m mark, it was a narrow margin to Pinito, who has now recorded two black type wins since joining the Waller yard, finishing ahead of Hyperbolic with the winner’s stablemate Pippie Beach in third.
“Godolphin have been terrific supporters of a lot of trainers over the past year, and I've been a benefactor of that,” said Waller after the win of Pinto. “They're a great team to work with and yeah, they appreciate black type results.”
As for where the multiple stakes winner will head next, Waller indicated there were races for her during the carnival.
“There's a fantastic series of races up here and they'll get better horses as a result. I think there's a $500,000 race in two weeks' time, maybe the same distance over the road (Eagle Farm).”
Riding his first winner of the meeting, McDonald highlighted his mare’s ability.
“She's a good horse,” said McDonald. “Obviously running second in the Oaks this time last year, so she's no slouch.”
“The writing was on the wall, so to speak, because she was the well-performed horse coming into this race.”
Taking her earnings just shy of $500,000 from four wins and a further nine placed efforts from 16 starts, Pinito was a $260,000 purchase for Godolphin Australia Pty Ltd from the Widden Stud draft at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Bred by the Vieira Group, Pinito is the best of three winners from Waltzing Wodka, a winning half-sister by Sebring to G2 winners Zloties, Seaburge and Catch A Fire from the family of G1 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 this year’s Inglis Premier yearling sale to Proven Thoroughbreds and Hayfields Racing and a weanling filly.
Pinito is one of 12 stakes winners for Widden Stud’s four-time G1-winning Champion 3YO Colt Trapeze Artist who will stand for $27,500 (inc. GST).
