Pinseeker looking to start new season on high

Not a lot went right for the Jonny Cox trained Pinseeker (Downbytheseaside) last season, but his Leeston harness racing trainer hopes he’ll return to winning form in tomorrow’s $40,000 Group Three Ranfurly Transport Limited Central Otago Cup.

“It was an up and down sort of season,” Cox said.

Pinseeker won the G3 Autumn FFA at Addington, was third in the Waikato Flying Mile and was fifth in The Race won by Leap To Fame.

“It was good to go to Aussie and pick up a win but the rest of the trip didn’t pan out too well. In the Cup (New Zealand Cup) things didn’t fall our way.”

Tomorrow the six year old gelding faces eight rivals.

“Alta Meteor is in there and he’s done a great job. Wag Star is in a similar sort of boat to us having raced the good ones and just finished behind them. Who’s Delight has raced in some good races so it’s not going to be easy.”

Pinseeker’s task has not been made easier by his draw – the outside of the front row.

“It’s going to make it tricky but hopefully it’s a truly run race. At the moment I plan to race him short course because of him pulling in the New Zealand Cup and those long races. He won over the mile at Menangle pretty well and the G3 at Addington was over 1980, so I think it’s a good distance for him.”

Cox has taken the pacifiers and anti-chock devises off Pinseeker for this race.

“He’s been working without them and seems to be working good. We’ve taken everything off and we’re starting from scratch again. We’ll see how we go.”

Pinseeker ran third behind Mo’unga and one Change in last year’s Central Otago Cup FFA.

After Friday’s run Pinseeker will head to Nelson and race over a mile on the second day of the meeting.

Cox also lines up Prestigious (Majestic Son) in Race Eight. He’s a half-brother to Master Class who ran second on debut to the smart Axel Rose before winning at Timaru. He then ran ninth at Ashburton.

“He’s a nice enough horse but he’s up against Phil’s one.” (He Aint Fakin trained by Phil Williamson).

Although the four year old starts off the unruly Cox says he’s pretty safe from the stand.

“He’s stepped away every time. He can get a bit funny, (like) if he’d drawn one and had to wait for everyone else to turn in. As long as he’s moving he’s happy enough so I’m happy to keep him on the unruly until he grows up a little bit.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink