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.
Matt Young’s Monday Pinjarra Selections April 29, 2024 Race 1 CURADH (3) IDEAL INTEREST (6) MIKI SPRING STEP (8) BUNJIL MAN (2) Race 2 PRINCE OF PAIN (3) ATLAS THE TITAN (5) ICY… Read More
Harry Buchanan’s Monday Greyhound Best Bets April 29, 2024 NORTHAM Race 5 No. 3 No Payout and No. 1 Apollo Fun Kicking off the Northam season with dogs that absolutely know this track. The… Read More
Harry Buchanan’s Sunday Greyhound Best Bets April 28, 2024 CANNINGTON Race 4 No. 4 Trendy Miss A shame this wasn’t a 380m event. She would be a leading show. However she can play for… Read More
Harry Buchanan’s Saturday Greyhound Best Bets April 27, 2024 CANNINGTON Race 1 No. 3 All Grunt and No. 7 Cherry Blue The 3 is a real good smokies play here. A little luck into… Read More
Scott Embry’s Sunday Albany Preview April 26, 2024 RACE 1 MORGS FREEMAN has been in consistent form throughout the campaign and won a very similar race to this four starts back. That was… Read More
Weekend Tipsters April 26, 2024 Caulfield Saturday Warren Huntly Quaddie 3 9 4 5 – 8 10 – 1 5 6 – 15 2 1 9 6 3 Best Bet… Read More
Trent Cooper’s Gloucester Park Preview April 26, 2024 Race 1 MACHS BETTOR (1) battled bad draws towards the end of his last campaign but warmed up for this assignment with a good 3rd… Read More
Warren Huntly’s Saturday Caulfield Preview April 26, 2024 Race 1 BEWS caught the eye when resuming and may settle a bit closer from a favourable draw. AWAPUNI PRINCESS will settle close to last… Read More
Harry Buchanan’s Friday Greyhound Best Bets April 26, 2024 MANDURAH Race 1 No. 1 Bracton and No. 8 Nitro Ruby Steady one to start the card. The 1 on its best form wins but… Read More
Chris Nelson’s Saturday Rosehill Preview April 25, 2024 RACE 1 Racing returns to Rosehill after a hugely successful autumn carnival, no more Group & Listed racing until the spring. Although not drawn well… Read More
Chris Nelson’s Saturday Eagle Farm Preview April 25, 2024 RACE 1 Tough race to open up a big day at Eagle Farm even allowing for the smallish field. I’ll lean to the consistent CONNECTICUT… Read More
Scott Embry’s Saturday Ascot Preview April 25, 2024 RACE 1 SIREN ASSAULT won the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes and then last weekend sat three deep the trip in the Karrakatta Plate when still… Read More