The Pinjarra Classic: What History Says Posted on February 24, 2017February 24, 2017 | Posted by Julio Santarelli BACKGROUND A field of nine starters contested the first running of the Listed Pinjarra Classic in 1998. The fancied runners included Cash In The Bank and Jacks Or Better who battled out favouritism. But Sounds Of Legend, trained by Jim Taylor and ridden by Paul Harvey, proved too strong, scoring by a half-length from Volstag with Zacaboy third. The Pinjarra Classic has been run over distances ranging between 1200m and 1500m and in 2008 was hosted at Ascot. JOCKEY Paul Harvey has ridden three Pinjarra Classic winners, the best of any rider. After Sounds Of Legend he partnered Bumbelina (2001) and Mr Callahan (2002). William Pike, Jason Whiting, Troy Turner, Shaun O’Donnell and Peter Hall have won the race on two occasions. Pike won his first Pinjarra Classic on Glory Hunter (2010) and followed up soon after with Vermeer (2013). Whiting combined with Harvard (2009) and last year with First Among Equals. Turner won his two races almost a decade apart. He guided Kame’s Hope (2003) for mentor, Colin Webster and Watermans Bay (2014). O’Donnell rode popular local Pinjarra galloper, Royal Lott (2006) before completing the double with Bites The Dust (2012). Kyra Yuill is the only rider in the field of nine in Sunday’s feature who already has a Pinjarra Classic to her name after guiding Henry De Horse (2011) to victory. Yuill and Alana Williams, who sat aboard On Target (2005), are the only females to ride a Pinjarra Classic winner. They team up on Sunday with Coming Back, a horse trained by Williams and her partner, Grant Williams. Eight riders engaged in Sunday’s sprint feature can record their maiden wins in the Pinjarra Classic: Dan Staeck (Divine Calling), Craig Staples (Great Shot), Chris Parnham (Rebel King), Pat Carbery (Django), Brad Parnham (Havana), Jerry Noske (Man Booker), Steven Parnham (North Ridge) and Peter Knuckey (Rowie). Knuckey and Carbery have gone close previously with three minor placings each. TRAINER Geoff Roberts with Corporate Gun (1999-2000) and long-time Pinjarra committee member, Keith Jeffries, with Royal Lott (2006-2008) are the most successful trainers of the Pinjarra Classic. The Bruce Watkins-Gary Hitchcock co-partnership and Vaughn Sigley are the sole trainers to prepare a Pinjarra Classic quinella. Watkins and Hitchcock prepared Vermeer and Kerrific (2013) and Sigley looked over Black Heart Bart and Dawn Approach. Fred Kersley (Divine Calling-Northridge), Rhys Radford (Great Shot), Darren McAuliffe (Rebel King), Alan Mathews (Django), Chris Gangemi (Havana), Grant and Alana Williams (Coming Back), Dan Morton (Manbooker) and Stephen Sheehy (Rowie) can claim their first wins. Morton placed three times previously with Red Ora (2016) and Oroya Gold (2008-2009). BARRIERS Django (2) and Havana (9) will be out to maintain the dominance of barriers two and nine which have won four Pinjarra Classics. Remarkably barrier nine won in three consecutive years: Mr Callahan (2002), Kame’s Hope (2003) and Mapperholic (2004). Northridge (3), Rowie (4), Great Shot (5) and Coming Back (8) will have to buck the trend with no horses winning from their respective starting gates. LEAD UP RACES Seven of the 19 champions won their lead-up race before the Pinjarra Classic, seven were placed and one was successful when first up. The past three winners: First Among Equals (2016), Black Heart Bart (2015) and Watermans Bay (2014) have come through winning the Cyril Flower Stakes. Great Shot, who won the Cyril Flower Stakes a week ago and Man Booker are last start winners, Django has been freshened and Havana kicks off his campaign. WEIGHT Black Heart Bart lumped the highest weight to win the Pinjarra Classic, he carried 59kg in 2015.
Scott Embry’s Thursday Bunbury Preview July 29, 2025 RACE 1 BEYOND THE WALL jumps, runs and then paddles late. That’s him – but the 950m Bunbury Fibre Sand should be realistically where he… Read More
Scott Embry’s Wednesday Belmont Preview July 29, 2025 RACE 1 THE CRIMSON PIRATE ran well on debut behind Zourun Run and takes on the older horses like recent winners Bundaberg and Sherpa Express…. Read More
Matt Young’s Tuesday Bunbury Preview July 29, 2025 Race 1 DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE (1) is on debut and reads up well for this race, looks very hard to beat for Team Bond…. Read More
Shayne Williams’ Tuesday Greyhound Best Bets July 29, 2025 MANDURAH Race 6 No. 6 West On Caddy Going great guns at present, winning two of last three, three starts back he absolutely flew around… Read More
Matt Young’s Monday Gloucester Park Preview July 28, 2025 Race 1 MA PETITE DAME (5) did a power of work last time out and was brave in defeat, steps up to the 2130m and… Read More
Shayne Williams’ Monday Greyhound Best Bets July 28, 2025 NORTHAM Race 4 No. 2 Pump Fake Relished the switch up in tracks last week to break the maiden, that was her first start here… Read More
Shayne Williams’ Saturday Greyhound Best Bets July 26, 2025 CANNINGTON Race 5 No. 4 Torino Think he’s flying under the radar this guy, he’s had no luck with the box draws yet he’s been… Read More
TIPS – Greyhound Jet Set Podcast July 25, 2025 Mandurah Friday David Shortte 8-1 Aston Nero 11-1 Rapido Jedi 12-1 Reiko Tedesco ROVING BANKERS : 2-1 You’re Busted / 5-1 Speed Byte / 9-6… Read More
Weekend Tipsters July 25, 2025 Caulfield Saturday Warren Huntly Quaddie 7 6 4 13 – 6 3 10 4 – 8 9 3 4 6 – 15 6 13 8… Read More
Scott Embry’s Sunday Kalgoorlie Preview July 25, 2025 RACE 1 BONDI’S SON caught the eye last start in the race behind Lendanear that a few of the ‘fancies’ come through including Prince Of… Read More
Matt Young’s Saturday Narrogin Preview July 25, 2025 Race 1 DROP THE ACE (4) has good early speed and can burn to the top, the short course suits and they may give the… Read More
Shayne Williams’ Friday Greyhound Best Bets July 25, 2025 MANDURAH Race 7 No. 5 Trunkey Irene She will appreciate the drop in grade tonight, back to a mix 4/5 grade race here, three starts… Read More