Trainer David Pfieffer is optimistic that Whinchat, known for his front-running style, is on the cusp of a much-deserved stakes race win following his improved performance last start.
After an early speed battle with Phearson in the Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) proved detrimental, Whinchat successfully crossed from an outside gate to lead in the Civic Stakes (1400m), ultimately fighting on well to finish second to Midnight Dynamite.
“I was really happy and proud of my bloke’s performance. It’s good to see him show what he can do for us,” Pfieffer remarked. “I’d just love to see him win a stakes race. He’s run a couple of placings (in that grade), so hopefully it can come in his next couple of starts.”
Whinchat has a record of seven wins from 20 starts and has demonstrated his capability over the Winter Stakes course and distance with two prior victories. When he is able to secure an uncontested lead, he is a formidable opponent, despite occasional pre-race antics in the starting stalls.
This weekend, Whinchat has drawn barrier eight, a significant improvement from his previous wide gates. This contrasts with Midnight Dynamite, who will start from gate 11 in the 15-horse field at Rosehill. Pfieffer is counting on this change in fortune with the barriers to help Whinchat turn the tables.
“When this horse gets out in front and gets his own way, gets unchallenged, he is always going to be hard to run down,” Pfieffer elaborated. “With the likes of Midnight Dynamite, he got a good gate last start so it allowed him to get a nice run in transit, where drawn a bit wider, he’s got to use himself a bit more mid-race. That’s ultimately how races are defined a lot of the time, by barriers. Especially in big fields and we look like getting that on Saturday.”
The gelding heads into the Rosehill feature race third-up and is also nominated for the Winter Challenge (1400m) later this month, with the possibility of extending his distance later on. Pfieffer’s long-term vision is to target races towards the end of the year when the top carnival horses are in the spelling paddock.
“We’ll most likely race this Saturday then go around in the Winter Challenge two weeks after,” Pfieffer confirmed. “Then we’ll consider a country Cup. I’d like to see him out over a mile at some stage. There are some nice races later in the year for him. We’re not going to be in the thick of spring or autumn, so we’ve got to go around where he can be most competitive.”
General Salute carries the top weight of 58.5kg for the Winter Challenge, with five horses, including the promising Glorious Moments trained by Jim and Greg Lee, set to carry the minimum 53kg.
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