Cranbourne based Enver Jusufovic can now call himself a Group 1 winning trainer after Pinstriped took out the feature race on the opening day of the Melbourne Spring Carnival at Caulfield.
Pinstriped took out the Memsie Stakes on Saturday to give Jusufovic his first win at the highest level after seven previous attempts that had not yielded a place.
Under the guidance of Ben Allen, Pinstriped ($14) scored by a neck from the $2.50 betting site favourite, and last year’s winner, Mr Brightside with Gentleman Roy ($9) a further 2-¼ lengths away third.
The expected match race between Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni ($2.9) did not eventuate with the mare weakening after leading to finish fifth, more than 5-½ lengths astern of the winner.
Jusufovic said Saturday’s Memsie Stakes was a true Group 1 contest with the likes of Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni engaged and was thrilled to have secured a win at the highest level.
Pinstriped returned from an abbreviated autumn campaign to run second to Gentleman Roy in the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) on August 16.
“He pulled up so well first-up and he’s got a great second-up record so you’re not going to die wondering,” Jusufovic said.
“This horse has promised so much, but he’s got issues, but he’s just done so well this time in and it’s just fantastic.”
Jusufovic had toyed with the idea of applying a tongue tie to the gear of Pinstriped after the gelding laid in up the straight in the P B Lawrence.
But a less than flattering track gallop on Tuesday persuaded Jusufovic to remain as is with the gelding’s gear.
“In his final gallop on Tuesday, he didn’t impress me, so I decided not to change anything,” Jusufovic said.
“Ben and I had a plan, with this wind today, that we’d ride the horse the way he should be ridden and when you go for your run just give him a bit of extra room so there’s no buffeting.
“I think if a horse knocks him or has a tussle with him, he tends to forget about going forward and wants to get into a scuffle.”
Pinstriped showed promise from day one, winning his first three starts including the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes at Flemington as a three-year-old.
An $80,000 purchase as a weanling, one of the most expensive horses in Jusufovic’s care, Pinstriped has won almost $1.7 million in prize money.
However, the gelding has been plagued by back issues which has restricted the gelding to just 23 starts, for seven wins.
Jusufovic said he would mull over Saturday’s victory and discuss with Allen whether to head to the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 14 or wait for the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 27, a race he won last year which in turn earned him a start in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m).
“I’ll discuss it with Ben, and we’ll see whether we go to a Makybe (Diva) or a Feehan, but it’ll be off to the pub tonight I think,” Jusufovic said.
Craig Williams, who rode the runner-up Mr Brightside, said he was rapt with the performance, but not the result.
“He’s in for a really good preparation,” Williams said.
“He didn’t win today, but he gave me a lovely ride, gave himself every chance and was prepared well enough for today.
“He came here fit, ready to win and we were beaten by a better horse today, on the day.”
Declan Bates, rider of Pride Of Jenni, reported the mare was not suited by the 1400m and would appreciate a step up in distance.
“What I loved was after the line, she was straight back up on the back of them and grabbed the bit again,” Bates said.