NZ apprentice Wiremu Pinn puts claim battle behind

New Zealand apprentice Wiremu Pinn joked his mount Born Hustler would have won by 10 lengths had he still been able to claim 3kg in the Melbourne metropolitan area.

Pinn had his claim reduced from 3kg to 2kg for Wednesday’s meeting at Sandown after an audit of his New Zealand wins showed he had 23 victories in races at ‘Premier’ meetings or in ‘Premier’ races.

Racing Victoria Stewards are continuing enquiries into the mix up that allowed the apprentice to claim 3kg when he arrived in Melbourne ahead of his first winner at Mornington on May 31.

Pinn followed up with a treble at Sandown last Saturday along with winners at Mornington on Monday when claiming 3kg before his win with a 2kg claim in the Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap (1600m) at Sandown on Wednesday.

The apprentice said he did not mind competing with his 2kg claim, so long as he could keep on riding.

“That’s all I’m worried about,” Pinn said.

“I just wanted to know where I’m at. Some people are telling me three (kilos) some are telling me two (kilos), so it’s good to know what I’ve got now.”

Pinn has now ridden six winners in the metropolitan area of Melbourne.

Born Hustler’s win by 2-½ lengths was an all-the-way victory with Pinn wanting the opposition to carry their weight.

“She was very positive and put herself there,” Pinn said.

“She had a soft lead and I thought I would use my claim to advantage and kick on the corner and let them chase me.

“A challenger came up to me, but she has just kicked away clear from them.

“I think if the race had gone any further, she would have got further in front.”

Quizzed whether the filly could have won by five lengths if Pinn had claimed 3kg, the apprentice responded with tongue in cheek: “Nah ten.”

A double on Wednesday for Celine Gaudray aboard Riverplate and Vitruvius has given the apprentice the lead in the Melbourne Apprentices’ Premiership with 26 winners, two clear of Carleen Hefel.