Headstrong Mare Makes It Successive Wins

Jim Conlan has credited a confidence-boosting win at Pinyin’s previous run as the reason she has been able to make it back-to-back successes at Caulfield.

Pinyin hadn’t tasted victory since June last year before winning at Cranbourne earlier this month and has now won four from 19 starts.

“I think it probably helped her winning that race a couple of weeks ago at Cranbourne,” Conlan said.

Conlan said it was also significant Pinyin had stayed in touch with the field early, rather than drop out and lose contact which she had done on numerous occasions.

Conlan described Pinyin as a headstrong mare with a mind of her own but said she always tried hard.

Pinyin is a grand-daughter of 2000 Newmarket Handicap winner Miss Pennymoney, who was also trained by Conlan, and she is owned in the same interests.

“She really does attack the line. She wants to win, although she doesn’t get there that often,” Conlan said.

Her victory in Saturday’s Glynn Bramich Memorial Handicap (1100m) has prompted Conlan to give Pinyin an opportunity in better races with the Black Pearl on Geelong Cup day and the Alinghi Stakes at Caulfield on October 17 among the options.

Conlan also said Pinyin handled all conditions but was more adept on a soft track, which she had at Caulfield.

Pinyin ($6.50) was the recipient of a brilliant ride from Craig Williams who pushed her through in the closing stages to defeat How Womantic ($4 fav) by a half-neck with Algadon Miss ($8) a head away third.

Danny O’Brien may have unveiled another potential Cups candidate after imported stayer Saracen Knight charged home to win the Peter Comley Handicap over 2000 metres.

Irish Flame seemingly had the race in his keeping before Saracen Knight, ridden by Damian Lane, swamped him late.

O’Brien said there were a lot of options over 2400 metres for the Lloyd Williams-owned galloper.