Pinseeker wins on Aussie debut

New Zealand pacer Pinseeker (Downbytheseaside) got his Interdominion Championship campaign off to the perfect start when he won at Menangle last night.

“He can get a little bit keen but once the gate rolled off he was nice and relaxed. Some of the others burnt off the gate and gave us a chance to find our feet. He felt good,” said trainer driver Jonny Cox.

Cox and Pinseeker have been staying at Luke McCarthy’s property and McCarthy provided Cox with some good insight into last night’s race.

“He pretty much told me step by step what would happen and it did. He said ‘you’re the favourite, and just roll forward without burning.’ That’s what we did. Luke’s a great driver and he knew that race down to a tee.”

After leading, Pinseeker went on to win by 6.7 metres from another kiwi, Betterthancash. His winning time for the 1609 metre trip was 1-51.9.

“It’s a big roomy track and it’s easy to see how they can go so quick. We were lucky enough to get a couple of soft quarters down the back.”

Cox says Pinseeker will benefit from the run.

“He’s pretty happy here rather than slopping around in the mud at home. It was three weeks between the Country Cups Championship and last night. He had a wee bit of a blow after the race which I expected him to do and he recovered really well after that. He wasn’t screwed right down.”

PINSEEKER REPLAY

The series format of two heats and a final is expected to suit the five year old.

“It’s not the old gruelling system when you have three heats then the final. They’re going to be running slick times up there and the two rounds of heats might benefit a lot of horses. I don’t think it’ll worry him too much.”

Cox has driven before in Australia, representing New Zealand in the Australasian Young Drivers Championship in 2006 in Victoria and Tasmania and in South Australia in 2007.

“A lot’s changed since then. There were a lot of great drivers in that series like Greg Sugars, Andrew McCarthy and James Rattray.”

Prior to last night’s win he’d driven one winner – at Launceston in Tasmania in March 2006.

The Cox family have fond memories of racing their great trotter David Moss in Australia in 1994. He won three races at Moonee Valley including the Australasian Trotters Championship and the Dullard Cup.

“I listened to them on the radio and then I was able to watch them on video. It was pretty exciting times for us. It’s cool to come over here with one as well.”

Pinseeker is owned by Iain Wilson, Peter Brinsdon, Jason Wood, Bernie McKone, Phil Stephens, Logan Boersma and Gary May.

“There were four here last night. I think they’re all going to be here at some point. They should have a good time I’m picking. They’ve been patient and let the big horse say when he was ready to go. We’ve tried to look after him as much as we can and I think we’re getting the benefits out of it now.”

This year’s Interdominion Series will be held at Albion Park in Brisbane with heat on Saturday 5^th July and Saturday 12^th July with the Grand Final on Saturday 19^th July.

Harnesslink’s Tony Milanese will have same night coverage of all three nights.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink