The Group 1 Stow Storage Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield was billed as a match race between the Horse Of The Year finalists Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside, but Pinstriped did not read the script and after not striking a blow in five starts at the elite level, provided a memorable day for trainer Enver Jusufovic.
A first G1 for Pinstriped (image Grant Courtney)
As expected, Pride Of Jenni took up her frontrunning role, but there were no 30-length heroics here as she led the field through moderate sectionals.
A beaten force on straightening, Pride Of Jenni handed up to old foe Mr Brightside, who had enjoyed a perfect stalking trip under Craig Williams. Before he could be hailed the winner, Ben Allen peeled off on Pinstriped.
Mr Brightside was not about to give in without a fight, but the race fit Pinstriped was not to be denied.
The 6-year-old son Street Boss (USA) defeated Mr Brightside (Bullbars) a neck with Gentleman Roy (So You Think) two and a quarter lengths back in third.
With his Group 1 breakthrough, Pinstriped advances his record to seven wins, three seconds, and three thirds from 23 starts with earnings of $1,690,450.
“A childhood dream for a Footscray boy, who used to ride a bike to Flemington and sell Herald’s at Flemington,” an emotional Jusufovic said
“I started at (Greg) Eurell’s years ago; he said I was hopeless, didn’t have the work ethic, just patience, so it’s great to be here with Addison and everyone who’s had faith in me and here I am, a Group One-winning trainer.”
“It’s a true Group One when you’ve got Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside, but of course they were first up, we were second up, he pulled up so well first up and he’s got a great second up record, so you’re not going to die wondering, this horse has promised, he’s got issues, but he’s just done so well this time in and it’s just fantastic.
That's my boy (image Grant Courtney)
“I paid eighty thousand for him as a weanling, I can’t afford to buy expensive yearlings; it was the first time I’d purchased a weanling and suggested to the crew to wait five months and you’ve got an $160,000 yearling, so he’s one of the most expensive horses in my stable would you believe.
“I was really disappointed that he laid in quite badly last start, and I tried a tongue tie on him every day last week and then his final gallop on Tuesday, he didn’t impress me so I decided not to change anything.
To the winner- the spoils (image Grant Courtney)
“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 because 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.
“Now that he’s won a Group One, I’ll just take every race as it comes and 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.”
An $80,000 purchase by Enver Jusufovic/Gary Mudgway Bloodstock from the Noorilim Park draft at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, Pinstriped is the best of two winners from three to race for the winning Snitzel mare Snitzel Blitz.
An unforgettable day (image Grant Courtney)
A sister to stakes-placed Moreau from the family of Arazi (USA) and Noverre (USA), Snitzel Blitz has a 2-year-old colt by Capitalist, who was a $450,000 purchase for Ricky Yiu from the Glenbeigh Farm draft at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
After missing in 2022, Snitzel Blitz visited Pierata last spring.
Pinstriped is the ninth Group/Grade 1 winner for Darley Stud shuttler Street Boss (USA), who remained in Australia after covering 82 mares. The son of Street Cry (IRE) stands for $66,000 this spring.
