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Pinwheel has followed in the footsteps of his sire Lonhro winning the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) for a second time and went past one million dollars in prize money earned in the process.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Pinwheel was given the run of the race by jockey Kerrin McEvoy who was positive from an outside draw, landing on the back of the leading pair Rolling Pin and Rock 'n' Pop.
McEvoy had Pinwheel set to pounce as they turned and with race fitness on his side proved impossible to run down with star mare Secret Admirer doing best of the rest, powering to the line late to take second.
Secret Admirer was one of a handful of promising runs for the spring ahead. Veteran Danleigh was terrific late having been without luck back in the field on straightening and Lamasery, first up after nine months off, was arguably the run of the race going forward having working home into fourth after settling at the tail of the field.
Rock 'n' Pop was disappointing in the run home, though appears to have had a genuine excuse after it was reported that he was galloped on and pulled up lame.
Pinwheel perhaps looks a shade out of place amongst other dual winners of the Warwick Stakes, with the likes of Super Impose, Filante and Lonhro having completed that feat, but his record of 34 starts for 12 wins and 13 placings confirms him as one of the countries most consistent gallopers and one of trainer Peter Snowden's favourites.
“There's probably no other horse that deserves it more than he does,” said Snowden.
“He's been such an honest horse and to be just the standard below and win a million dollars, and to win it like he did today, it was just fantastic.”
“It was a fantastic ride from Kerrin, probably the difference between winning and losing. He was positive early, put him in the gun spot, and he was good enough. That residual fitness, there's no substitute for that.”
McEvoy, who was winning on Pinwheel for the eighth time, was similarly full of praise for the seven-year-old who he rode in his first race start back in 2008.
“It's great you know, it's a credit to the whole team,” said a humble McEvoy.
“It's wonderful for all involved; it's just great to have these sorts of horses in the stable.”