Wiremu Pinn will be hunting more Group One success when he heads to Trentham this weekend.
Wiremu Pinn will ride The Intimidator (inside) in the Gr.1 Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Trish Dunell
The Waikato hoop recorded his maiden Group One success aboard Marscapone in last year’s Gr.1 WFA Classic (1600m) at Otaki and he believes he is a good chance of doubling his elite-level tally aboard The Intimidator in the Gr.1 Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors Levin Classic (1600m) on Saturday.
“Your first Group One is very exciting, especially to do it as an apprentice,” Pinn said.
“Big opportunities like that don’t really come around very often, so it was good to get that opportunity and get that Group One win under my belt.
“Hopefully I can get a big win for Andrew (Forsman) on Saturday because he is very loyal to me.”
Pinn has developed a formidable partnership with The Intimidator this season, with the pair combining on five occasions for three wins, including the Listed Mufhasa Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa last start.
They also placed in their two other outings, including runner-up to Sacred Satono in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) and third in the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m).
The Intimidator also finished fifth in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) when ridden by Damian Lane, with subsequent Group One winners Prowess and Legarto franking the strong form race, while third place-getter Desert Lightning won the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) at his next start.
Pinn was over the moon with The Intimidator’s most recent victory and was pleased with the gelding’s work on Tuesday morning.
“He has come through that last race really well. I rode him this morning and you wouldn’t even know he has raced,” he said.
“I am really happy with him and I am just hoping we get a good draw. I think he will be pretty hard to beat.”
Pinn is confident the son of Toronado will see out a tough Trentham mile.
“I think he will definitely get the mile, hopefully he doesn’t overdo things, but he is pretty easy to ride and is versatile,” Pinn said.
“He is a pretty honest horse. He is raw and is still learning but he is going to be exciting when the penny drops.”
Meanwhile, Pinn said he is doing well after a gate incident last month which almost cost him his chance of riding on Derby Day.
“One just went up in the gates and crushed my neck on the top of the gates. I got taken to Middlemore Hospital where they took x-rays,” Pinn said.
“I was told I had fractured my vertebrae, but I didn’t think it was that bad. I went to the doctor a couple of days later and they said I was fine and I was given clearance to ride.”
Pinn has been regularly seeing his chiropractor and he said that has been instrumental in getting his body in tune for raceday.
“It is a little bit niggly. I have been seeing my chiropractor every two weeks. She is just getting me right,” he said.
“I have an appointment on Friday before I ride to make sure everything is 100 percent, so there will be no excuses.” – NZ Racing Desk
