Saturday, 11 August 2012: Class prevailed in the feature of the ATC’s feature at Warwick Farm on Saturday when Pinwheel dominated the $125,000, Group 3, WFA McGrath Missile Stakes (1200m).
The Peter Snowden trained veteran returned to the track for the first time since his fourth in the Group 1 Stradbroke
Handicap over 1400m at Eagle Farm in June and promptly put the field away with ease.
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy settled in fourth as Welkom Gold and Peter Robl took the field of eight through to the turn for the
main straight followed by Title, Corey Brown, and Rolling Pin (NZ) and Nash Rawiller.
Passing the 600m McEvoy clicked Pinwheel up a gear and they improved rapidly outside the runners in front to draw level
with Welkom Gold with 300m to run.
Pinwheel had the field covered from that point and only the reliable Centennial Park (NZ) and Glyn Schofield were able to
give an effective chase. However it was then as simple McEvoy asking Pinwheel for another gear and once he did that
with 150m to run away they went to a very good win.
The margin was 1 3/4L to a deserved second placed Centennial Park (Thorn Park) with Rolling Pin (Pins) third, the
margin 1L. The time was a good 1.09.74 on the Good 2 track with the final 600m in 34.24. Pinwheel paid $2.30 as NSW
TAB favourite.
“Every campaign he delivers. Last prep he did win a race but his Stradbroke run was enormous, very, very good and he
did not get on the track and he did more work than any horse and he was beaten just 2L so he has just been a real
favourite of the stable,” said Snowden.
“You do not need to spell him and he just has two or three weeks to freshen up and you can really race him all year
round. We have being doing it the last two years now and he is thriving on it.
“He has his issues early but now we have good staff at home who really look after the horse well and he is always carried
for. We are mindful of his joints and with that sort of care and attention to detail it certainly pays off,” he said.
“He has still got that drive there and I knew I had rested enough early to get up and put them to the sword, so it was a
good effort,” said McEvoy.
“When I stoked him up he got there and cruised along for a little while as he hit the front right at the top of the straight so I
just gave him a crack and away he went.
"It was good to see him do that. He is an older horse and his pride is still up there and he retains all his enthusiasm,” he
said.
Snowden said that the $175,000, Group 2, WFA Warwick Stakes (1400m) back at The Farm on August 26th will be the
next target for Pinwheel. Should Pinwheel, out of the Danehill mare Quilt, either win or place in the Warwick Stakes he
will become a million dollar earner for the stable.
The win was his 11th and he has placed 13 times from 33 starts.
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