Pinwheel has raced in many places but he will be in new surroundings on Friday night to chase another weight-for-age victory.
The winner of over $1.1 million prize money from his 36 starts, the well-travelled gelding will line up at Moonee Valley for the first time in the Group Two Australia Stakes (1200m).
It will be the 14th Australian racetrack he’s competed at in a career which has included wins in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.
He’s also been competitive in Group One company in South Australia and Western Australia.
Assistant trainer Paul Snowden is confident Pinwheel can capitalise on his weight-for-age experience in a small field lacking a big-name opponent.
“He can carry the weight, we know that, and he’s obviously raced against much harder opposition than this,” Snowden said.
“That gives us a great deal of confidence considering he’s been there and done it before at weight-for-age. There also seems to be a fair bit of speed so from a good draw he should be able to stalk the leaders turning for home and hopefully pounce in the straight.”
Pinwheel is yet to win a Group One but has taken out the past two Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Group Two level in Sydney.
His most recent outing was a fourth in the Group One Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in Perth on November 24.
“He had about two weeks in the paddock after coming back from Perth so he wasn’t out of work for long but that’s all he needs,” Snowden said.
“He does really well in the stable and he didn’t go out a tired horse.”
Pinwheel geared up for the Australia Stakes with a pleasing jump-out at Werribee last Friday.
“We used that as a guide to see where his fitness was,” Snowden said.
“Kerrin (McEvoy) rode him and said he feels great.”
With McEvoy booked to ride stablemate Sessions in the Listed Canterbury Classic in Sydney on Friday night, Vlad Duric will partner Pinwheel.
Stablemate Skytrain was also an Australia Stakes acceptor but has been scratched and is likely to run in the Canterbury Classic.
