Hinged gets her Reward in G2 Matriarch Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday November 9

After winning the Group 1 Surround Stakes at her fifth start for Chris Waller, Hinged took 28 starts and 141 weeks to add a second in Saturday's Group II  Tab Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.

Hinged goes for home (image Grant Courtney)

With Declan Bates attempting to do a Pride Of Jenni on Sirileo Miss, Hinged was off the bit a long way out and needed to be brave. The daughter of  Worthy Cause never flinched under a long drive from James McDonald to defeat Sirileo Miss (Pride Of Dubai) by a long head with one and a half lengths back to Lady In Pink (Pariah) back in third.

Hinged won five and was runner-up twice in seven starts for Michael Nolan at two. Brae Sokolski and Ozzie Kheir made an offer that owner/breeder Kim McCasker could not refuse, and the daughter of Worthy Cause was on her way south to Chris Waller's stables.

Advertisement

With her second stakes success, Hinged advances her record to seven wins, seven seconds, and five thirds from 40 stats with earnings of $2,266,750. 

There have been innumerable near misses, including seconds in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes, Group 1 Flight Stakes, Group II Chelmsford Stakes, Group II Guy Walter Stakes, Group II Apollo Stakes, and thirds in the Group 1 Epsom Hcp, Group 1 George Main Stakes, and Group 1 Coolmore Classic.

“She loves racing and although she’s getting on in life, it’s the best she’s ever looked,” Waller said.

 “I took a video of her and sent it to the owners yesterday to say look at how well she’s travelled down from Sydney.

Hinged checks out the semaphore board (image Grant Courtney)

“Great ride from James McDonald. It was a nice draw, good weight, and a long Flemington straight, so it made it easier.

It worked out perfectly the first half of the race, James got her in a good spot, good speed so it set up well.”

Hinged is the best of three winners from as many to race for Tints.

Kim McCasker purchased Tints for a modest $10,000 when consigned by Clear Mountain Fairview to the 2012 Magic Millions QTIS Yearling Sale. She started 47 times for Ben Currie, winning twelve and placing in ten, earning  $247,150.

Tints is a daughter of the unraced Danzero mare Zero Colour, a half-sister to the III MRC Moonga Stakes runner-up Pink Fit (Flying Spur) and Listed WATC Placid Ark Stakes runner-up Stars Aligned (Not a Single Doubt), out of the Slew o' Gold mare, My Pink.

Brae Sokolski now owns Tints, and she has a yearling colt by Snitzel. She visited Maurice (JPN) last November. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Matriarch Stakes Gr2 2000m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 2:02.44
1
Hinged
- 6m Worthy Cause (AUS) x Tints (AUS) (Tycoon Ruler (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55.5
2
0.3
Sirileo Miss
- 7m Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x She's Sirius (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: Declan Bates 55
Pride Of Dubai
3
1.8
Lady In Pink
- 4m Pariah (AUS) x Iron Lace (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: L & T Corstens & W Larkin Rdr: Ben Allen 58
4
2.8
Little Mix
- 6m Mahisara (AUS) x Girls Aloud (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: Dylan Browne McMonagle 55.5
5
5.5
Quickster
- 4m Shamus Award (AUS) x Special Favour (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: L Nolen 56
6
5.8
Firestorm
- 4m Satono Aladdin (JPN) x Dancing Embers (NZ) (Istidaad (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Damian Lane 55
7
6.8
Molly Bloom
- 4m Ace High (AUS) x Dancilla (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: N Rawiller 59.5
8
7.2
Charisse
- 5m Churchill (IRE) x Bring Cheer (AUS) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: G M Moloney Rdr: Patrick Moloney 55
9
8.7
Kind Words
- 4m Written Tycoon (AUS) x Gracious Grey (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: C Schofield 55
10
8.8
Basilinna
- 4m Staphanos (JPN) x So Royal (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: E & D Browne Rdr: W Egan 55
11
9.6
Private Legacy
- 4m The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Private Secretary (AUS) (Husson (ARG))
Tnr: G D Hickman Rdr: Craig Williams 55
12
10.3
Wishlor Lass
- 6m Mshawish (USA) x Lorna's Lass (AUS) (Bianconi (USA))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: B Melham 57
13
10.8
Coco Sun
- 4m The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Miss Hufflepuff (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: M Zahra 59.5
14
18.8
Lievore
- 6m Epaulette (AUS) x Carmenes (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Ms N Burke Rdr: L Currie 55
15
53.8
Foxy Cleopatra
- 5m American Pharoah (USA) x Casuarina Forest (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: Zac Spain 55
More Reading...
Waters awarded 2026 Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship
Niamh Waters has been announced as the 2026 recipient of the Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship and will depart on Saturday to begin her 30-week international experience.
Super Seth Filly Adds to Te Akau NZB Kiwi Contenders
Te Akau Racing strengthened their representation in next month’s $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) following the announcement of their Group One winner La Dorada as ‘The People’s Horse’.
Vale, Reliable Man
Westbury Stud today announced with great sadness the passing of high-class racehorse and outstanding sire Reliable Man, who was humanely euthanised on veterinary advice due to post-surgical complications following the removal of a melanoma.
MRC Foundation pledges more than $50,000 to support Victorian bushfire recovery
The MRC Foundation will contribute more than $50,000 in direct financial and practical support to bushfire-affected communities across northeast Victoria, as regional racing families begin the long road to recovery following the recent Longwood fires.
The Real Diamonds in a Rhinestone World
It's hard to be a diamond in a rhinestone world -   Dolly Parton - Who is the authentic juvenile gem and who are the cut-glass pretenders in the 2026 G1 Blue Diamond Stakes field? 
Sires With Winners - Thursday February 19
Here is the full list of 43 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Records Tumble as Gingerbread Man Colt Tops Book Two
A colt by leading local sire Gingerbread Man topped Book Two when selling for $190,0000 as the 2026 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale rounded out with record breaking results.
Breeding To Win - 2026 G1 Blue Diamond Stakes
The late withdrawal on Friday morning of unbeaten Bivouac colt Big Sky from the $2million Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) has taken a key contender from the mix, but with a full field of 16 it's a race packed with intrigue.
Best On Breeding
The Group III James Squire Angst Stakes plays a minor role amidst a sea of multi-million dollar races at Randwick on Everest Day, but it presents a chance for Hinged to break a drought stretching back over two and a half years.
Unbeaten Run Continues as Aristopolos Wins Gold Sovereign
Taking his record to five from five, outstanding St Mark’s Basilica (FR) colt Aristopolos gave nothing else a chance in Friday night’s Listed Gold Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Launceston with John Blacker trained 2yo pulling clear to win by two lengths.