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Lonhro's Pin Sec Blows Them Away in Black Opal

Mark Smith - Sunday March 10

It sounds like a broken record, Godolphin wins another stakes race for two-year-olds.

The Group III Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra boasts an impressive roll call of winners that includes the multiple Group 1 winners Trapeze Artist and Criterion.

But it is doubtful even that illustrious pair were any more impressive than Sunday's winner Pin Sec, who, like last year's Black Opal winner Encryption is by the ageless Lonhro.

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Ten weeks after she exploded on the scene with a maiden win at Randwick, Pin Sec tracked the speed set by the high-priced Snowden pair McLaren and Rome and when Jason Collett pressed the button it was a matter of how far.


The only filly in the field, Pin Sec won by four lengths over the million dollar Pierro colt Rome with Exceed And Excel colt McLaren one and a half lengths further back in third.

With the $173,700 winner's cheque, Pin Sec moves her earnings to over $200,000 and is assured of a start in the Golden Slipper if that's the way trainer James Cummings elects to go.

"She looks a lot like dad, she's a lovely strong progressive filly," stable representative Darren Beadman said.

"She really surprised me how she jumped straight in to the bridle. She got into a lovely position but mid-race she was a little bit cramped by that horse having his first start. When she got into open spaces at about the 500m she really clicked into gear and won with a lot of authority.

"She's qualified (for the slipper), she a lovely filly and the team at Crown (Lodge) have done a fabulous job with her.

"James has really got his head around the two-year-olds and they bare all well-placed and hitting the mark at the right time."

Pin Sec is the second foal of the top-class Commands filly Moderate who won four of her five starts including the Listed VRC Lexus Hybrid Plate at what proved to be her career swansong.

The first foal of Moderate is Pin Sec's brother Restrained who has won his only two starts, the latest over 1200 metres at Newcastle on November 3.

Not covered in 2016, Moderate foaled a Street Boss (USA) filly on September 16 and was bred back to Lonhro.

Led by the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Lyre, Lonhro is having his best season with his two-year-old since his champion son Pierro ruled the roost in season 2001-12.

Pin Sec becomes his 82nd individual stakes-winner. 

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