Brilliant Eight Carat Win Thrusts Pinmedown (NZ) into Filly of the Year Contention

Pinmedown (NZ) (Pins) made her New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year debut and her black-type debut in the $100,000 Group 2 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, and she made an instant impact.

A last-start maiden winner at Hastings, the Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained filly was overlooked as a $33 outsider for the prestigious fillies’ feature.

But under a patient ride from Jake Bayliss, she sat at the back of the field before unleashing a withering finish in the final 250 metres.

She and House of Cartier (Alamosa) moved into contention side by side in the straight, with Pinmedown outfinishing that rival and claiming victory by a long neck.

Bought for $28,000 at the 2017 Select Sale at Karaka, Pinmedown has now won two of her four starts and $66,750 in prize-money for owners Savvy Racing Blues Syndicate (Mgr: Keith McDonald), Lois and Mike Wilson, Noel Gurney, Richard Sims, Adrian Mathieson, Rob Alderson, Ken and Bev Cherry and Ballymore Stables NZ Ltd.

“She has always been a nice filly and Pam has done a great job with her,” Moroney said.

“I was talking to Pam two weeks ago and when we were going through programmes she was quite happy to throw her in the deep end, and it has worked out the right way.

“She is going to be on an Oaks campaign, all going well.           She is a three-quarter sister to Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins) and she is now a very valuable sort of filly.

“She got a little bit on her toes before the race, but she is learning and she has got any amount of ability by the look of her.”

Ambitious Dragon won 13 races including the Hong Kong International Mile, Hong Kong Classic Cup, Hong Kong Derby and Queen Elizabeth II Cup. He earned more than HK$111 million and was a two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year.

Pinmedown earned 8 Filly of the Year Series points for her Eight Carat Classic win, moving her to second position. She shares that spot with third placegetter Queen of Diamonds (NZ) (Savabeel), who won the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1550m) in her previous start. House of Cartier joins the table in sixth position with 4 points.

Media Sensation (I Am Invincible) remains on top with 12 despite finishing outside the placings in the Eight Carat Classic.

The Filly of the Year Series continues on New Year’s Day, again at Ellerslie, with the $100,000 Group 2 Valachi Downs Royal Stakes (2000m).