The addition of blinkers has seen roughie Paquirri score an upset win in the Group 3 $200,000 Widden Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) on day one of The Championships at Randwick today.

Paquirri, above, scores an upset win in the Kindergarten Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Paquirri, above, scores an upset win in the Kindergarten Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Gary Moore trained Paquirri was coming off a last start eighth of nine in the Group 2 $300,000 UNSW Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick four weeks and was sent out at the long odds of $51.

Moore took the advice of part owner and former champion jockey Mick Dittman and put the blnkers on the I Am Invincible colt and got an instant result with a one and a half length win over Legend Of Condor ($4.40) and the $3.80 favourite Lean Mean Machine.

Andrew Adkins had Pacquirri travelling sweetly just off the leaders from barrier one and the colt had a good sprint in the straight to record his first win from five starts

“I always thought he had ability,” Moore said.

“It was a matter of him getting a good ride that he got today. Always drawn poorly. And don’t forget he was first emergency for the Magic Millions race on the Gold Coast.”

“We didn’t get in and he has shown his true colours today.”

“(The Blinkers) made a big difference, thanks to Mick Dittman.”

“I mentioned it to him so he said got for it. That was what TJ (Smith) used to put on them, so I said to him why not try it.”

“He is a partner in the colt and it has been a great result for everybody.”

The disappointment of the race was the Lindsay Park trained Enbihaar who drifted in the betting from $3 to start at $5.50 and was never in the race to wind up in eighth position.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.