By Adam Hamilton
Pinseeker’s hopes of making one of the strongest Miracle Mile fields for 20 years could rest on how the first 150 metres plays out at Menangle on Saturday night.
If Jonny Cox can get across from gate two to head-off pole-marker The Janitor and find the pegs, it will be a huge boost to Pinseeker’s prospects.
Only a top two finish in a star-studded $75,000 Bioworma Sprint (11.10pm) will guarantee Pinseeker a spot in the elite eight-horse Miracle Mile a week later.
He still has a chance of sneaking into the Mile through one of the two “discretionary” spots with a top three finish.
To finish top two or three, realistically Pinseeker will need to find the markers pegs when you consider his rivals include The Janitor, Kingman, Rakero Rocket, Swayzee, Eye Keep Smiling and even old marvel Max Delight.
“At first I thought I could drop straight in behind The Janitor, but now I’ve gone back and looked, he doesn’t seem to have all that much early speed,” Cox said. “I think we’ve got to see if we can get across him at the start, find the pegs and go from there.”
Cox would then almost certainly take a trail on Rakero Rocket, who looks like being first of the big guns to get alongside whoever leads early and press for the front.
“It’s hard to go in with too much of a set plan, but obviously the pegs is the place to be if we can get there, especially in a field like this,” he said.
“There are four or five of the very best horses in Australasia across the two qualifiers this week and we’ve got a couple in our race, but we always knew how hard it was going to be.”
Cox arrived back at Luke McCarthy’s Cobbitty stables on Tuesday morning and was pleased with how Pinseeker looked.
“He’s put on a bit of weight, so he’s come through that last run well,” he said.
“Luke’s been happy with his work and if Luke’s happy, then I’m happy.
“He looks good, we’ve got a good draw and we’ll give it our best.”
NZ and Victoria Cup winner Kingman (gate eight) is $3 favourite from Rakero Rocket (five, $3.20), The Janitor ($3.40) and Swayzee (12, $5). Pinseeker is a $12 chance.
In the first qualifier, Leap To Fame (gate four) has been crunched from $2.40 into $1.95, from Don Hugo (one, $2.70), Hi Manameisjeff (five, $4.80).
The Mark Purdon-owned Chase A Dream, now with Jason Grimson, is $19 from a wide draw (gate nine).
Former brilliant Kiwi mare Captains Mistress continues to shorten to become just the fourth mare to win the $250,000 Group 1 Chariots Of Fire on Saturday night.
Unbeaten in five runs for Grimson, she has firmed from $1.10 to $1.04 since drawing to lead from gate three.
