Trainer Greg Eurell has changed course with Cox Plate winner Pinker Pinker and will now run her in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday as a lead up to the Doncaster Mile.

Pinker Pinker

Pinker Pinker is set to run in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes - photo (c) Taron Clarke

Eurell had originally pencilled in the Group 1 $400,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 24 but after a poor run in the Group 1 $350,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm on March 10 decided to change tact.

“After she ran so poorly last time it was going to make it too hard to run in the Ranvet,” Eurell said.

“We had the two options of either going to the Ranvet and The BMW or Saturday’s Queen Of the Turf and the Doncaster depending on where we were at with her.”

Pinker Pinker looks well placed in the Group 1 $400,000 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill against the fillies and mares on Saturday.

Eurell is willing to forgive the mare for a below par run in the Chipping Norton and is happy to limit her to 1600m this campaign with the rich Spring races a priority.

“You’ve got to be a little bit forgiving and hopefully she can pick herself up on Saturday and get going again,” Eurell said.

Pinker Pinker resumed her Autumn campaign with a first up second to King Mufhasa in the Group 1 $500,000 Cathay Pacific Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 25 and Eurell thinks the step up the 1600m of the Chipping Norton second up might have been too much for her at that stage of her programme.

“It was something she has never had to do before and a lot of things didn’t go her way in that race,” Eurell said.

“Around the corner she copped a buffet from the inside horse and it certainly put her off balance.”

Pinker Pinker is currently $26 in the Doncaster but will shorten considerable if she can bounce back to her best form in the Queen Of The Turf on Saturday.

The Grahame Begg trained Secret Admirer heads the Doncaster betting at $7.50 just ahead of Gai Waterhouse’s three year old Niagara at $6.

 

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.