Trainer Troy Corstens has confirmed that Pinstripe Lane will be sent to Brisbane to contest the 2014 Queensland Derby and 2014 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) after the promising colt scored a comfortable two lengths victory in the Rexel Handicap (1900m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Damien Oliver will ride Pinstripe Lane in both the Grand Prix Stakes and Queensland Derby during the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Pinstripe Lane was chasing the maiden metropolitan victory of his racing career in the Rexel Handicap and was given an excellent run into the race by apprentice jockey Taylor Marshall, who settled the son of Pins just off the pace in the early stages of the race.
Surge Ahead kicked clear coming around the final turn and looked as though he was going to fight out the finish with Stellarlized, but Pinstripe Lane showed impressive acceleration to storm down the outside and record a two lengths win from Elusive Runner and Darci Magic.
Corstens told AAP after the race that he was thrilled with the performance of Pinstripe Lad, especially the way that he finished the 1900 metre race, and revealed that the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 7 was always the major target for the three-year-old this preparation.
“I was rapt with him and he’ll go to the Grand Prix in two weeks and then into the Derby after that,” Corstens said.
“He raced in the Derby last year and he probably wasn’t ready for that
“We gave him a good spell and really set him for the Queensland Derby; his number one target the whole preparation has been the Queensland Derby and now he’s going to get his chance.”
“He just needed to dot the I’s and cross the T’s which he has done.”
Pinstripe Lane made his racing debut with a sixth place finish in the IRT International Breakfast Plate (1118m) at Werribee on June 25 last year and suffered defeats at Seymour and Swan Hill before scoring his maiden race win in the Trios Sports Club Plate (2060m) at Cranbourne on September 4.
The colt performed well at Group level, finishing fourth behind Polanski in the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on October 5 and third in the Group 2 Mitchelton Wines Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 26, but was beaten by over 20 lengths in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November 2.
He made a slow start to his autumn campaign, suffering defeats at Sandown and Sale, but is now rated a $9 chance in 2014 Queensland Derby betting markets.
