Former New Zealand apprentice Wiremu Pinn was seen in winning action at The Valley on Saturday as he guided Flash Feeling (NZ) (Iffraaj) to a first-up victory in the Sharp EIT Solutions Handicap (1600m).
Unsighted since running fourth at the venue back in July, the John Sadler-trained five-year-old entire looped the field from last at the 600m before out-duelling Captain Britain (Camelot), Awash (Merchant Navy) and Golden Crusader (Golden Horn) in a driving finish that saw less than half a length separate the first four home.
The victory was Pinn’s second on the day after he had earlier piloted Holly Lolly (Snitzel) home in the sixth event on the card.
“I actually said to the strapper before I jumped on that I wasn’t too sure that the horse liked me,” Pinn said.
“Last time I rode him I had absolutely no control of him, but he has won very well today.
“He was really tough as he copped a bit of a check at the top of the straight and lost some momentum so he has done well to pick himself up and sprint again.
“Mr Sadler had rung me and said to just get him to settle and have one crack at them, as he is the best horse in the race and if he is good enough he will win and he proved that today.”
Stable representative Sarah Fannin was all smiles as she explained the decision to start in this race as opposed to a stakes race on Boxing Day.
“It (the decision) was based on the weather forecast as he definitely prefers a dry track and that decision has paid off,” Fannin said.
“It was a fantastic ride which we couldn’t have been happier with as he had to overcome the tricky draw (10 of 10), be patient and he popped off when he needed to, to get a terrific result.
“He’s come back a nice mature and strong horse for this prep, so we will take everything now as it comes.”
Flash Feeling is a graduate of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, where he was prepared by Prima Park and purchased by Dean Hawthorne for $160,000.
By former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Iffraaj, Flash Feeling is out of the winning High Chaparral mare Shanzam, who in turn is out of the Group Three winning mare Shanzero. He is the older half-brother of exciting three-year-old filly Mary Shan (NZ) (Almanzor) who finished close up in fifth in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton last month after finishing runner-up in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes (1400m).
The two-year-old Ocean Park half-brother to Flash Feeling was a $110,000 purchase by Henry Dwyer at The New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale in November while Prima Park will offer the Almanzor half-sister as Lot 393 during the Book 1 session at the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale at Karaka which kicks off on 28 January next month.
