Pretty Pins Earns Winter Shot

Saturday, 15 October 2011 05:45

Promising Patinack Farm filly Pretty Pins may have earned a long-range Group One Queensland Oaks campaign next winter following her grinding Eagle Farm win on Saturday.

Pretty Pins gave Gold Coast filly Our Design a start after settling back in last place shortly after the jump before wearing down the Alan Bailey-trained filly to score by three-quarters of a length in the T & J Whitehouse Investments Handicap (1400m).

The pair left the opposition in their wake with third placegetter Like A Gee Six a further 4-1/2 lengths away.

Pretty Pins, who was perfectly ridden by the in-form Jim Byrne, won impressively in maiden company at Doomben on September 14 before letting her supporters down when only third to Kelbenjar on the same track 10 days later.

Byrne became an instant fan of Pretty Pins and believes she has the scope to be a Queensland Oaks prospect at Eagle Farm during next year's Brisbane winter carnival.

"She'll definitely get 2400 metres but she needs to mature more," Byrne said.

"At her last run she was never comfortable but it was a different story out there today.

"It's difficult for any horse on a heavy track like that but she was quite comfortable and got a good run.

"I was able to cut the corner and get onto the back of Our Design and she showed she's got a big ticker."

Patinack Farm's stable manager in Queensland, Brett Killion, is unsure where Pretty Pins will head now after winning for the second time in three starts.

"She's got a lot of ability and is looking for 1600 metres and further," he said.

"But there's not a lot of races around for her at the moment.

"The way she won today you'd think she should measure up to the better fillies races next winter."

Bailey wasn't disappointed with Our Design's effort following her impressive midweek maiden victory at Doomben 10 days ago.

"It was a good effort considering it was her first run on a heavy track," Bailey said.

"I'm not sure whether she'll go for a break now or have another run but she'll still head towards next year's winter carnival.

"She's a big, leggy filly and she'll be better next preparation after she matures more."

Glen Colless tried to coax Our Design to the line once the daughter of Stratum hit the front in the straight.

"In hindsight I probably should have gone for her more once she got to the front," he said.