The Enver Jusufovic-trained Pinstriped has made it a hat-trick of wins to claim the Group 3 C.S. Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.
The unbeaten gelding started favourite for the event after pre-race favourite Lightsaber was scratched at the barriers. This came after the Peter Moody-trained Lightsaber missed the start badly in last week’s Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Jockey Michael Dee had the son of Street Boss in a midfield position early in the race. They had a lot of work to do after straightening though, as the Trent Busuttin & Natalie
Young-trained Pascero was also looking for a hat-trick of wins and looked likely to do that after kicking well clear in the early part of the straight.
Pascero tired late though and Pinstriped was the galloper who was good enough to pounce on the colt in the shadows of the post.
The Cranbourne trainer enjoyed watching his galloper take out the Group 3 event.
“I watched the race in the cheap seats by myself and took it all in,” Jusufovic told Racing.com after the race.
“Just a magnificent effort.”
What a huge result for @jusufovicracing!
Pinstriped comes charging home in the CS Hayes Stakes. pic.twitter.com/fqjPJ6lUFp
— 7HorseRacing
(@7horseracing) February 19, 2022
Pinstriped was able to win despite playing up quite badly before the event.
“He wasn’t great in the pre-parade. He put a dint in the rail…he reared up,” Jusufovic stated.
“It’s only his second prep.
“He’s still taking it all in.”
When asked if his galloper will take his place in the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington in two weeks’ time, Jusufovic said:
“I hope so, yeah.
“[It’s] pretty exciting.
“I think what you saw today indicates that the 1600 metres will be up his alley”.
Michael Dee thought that the task in front of his galloper may have been a bit too much.
“I didn’t think at all that we were going to pick up the leader until the last 50 metres when he really surged,” Dee said.
“He’s a very big horse and needs a lot of room. He’s got a very big, nice action and I was only more confident coming here to Flemington as he’s only been on soft tracks before.
“Utilising his action, I was confident that he’d go better on a good track.”
Pinstriped is currently a $4 equal favourite alongside the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Hitotsu to take out the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 5.