Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Pinhole eyes Melbourne Cup after strong showing
Pinhole, who narrowly missed a start in the Melbourne Cup by a single position, has now put himself in contention for the prestigious race after a commanding performance in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, marking him as a stayer with significant future potential in Australian racing.
The gelding was 25th in the order of entry for last Tuesday's 3200-metre feature, ultimately won by Point Of Law, and did not make the cut for the 24-runner field.
This setback was quickly forgotten as Pinhole, the $2.60 favourite, launched his challenge at the 300-metre mark, overtaking race leader Defiantly to secure a 2¾-length victory. Outsiders Manzor Blue ($41) and Torranzino ($26) claimed second and third respectively.
"He's a bright, bright stayer of the future," declared winning trainer Chris Waller.
"He was a good winner at Caulfield two starts ago, and then last start he had no luck at all. So he's a really promising horse, and it's all about getting him to the I guess the Cup for next year. It's a good step forward. He'll be qualified and we just have to find the best path for him now."
Both trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald observed that the UK-imported stayer settled much better this time around compared to his seventh-place finish in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup over 2500 metres a fortnight prior.
"He was really good (and) he relaxed a lot better too," McDonald stated.
"He's still a young progressive stayer. He probably should have been in the race on Tuesday, but there will be plenty of time."
Defiantly, trained by Joseph O'Brien and also denied a start in the Melbourne Cup by stewards' orders, finished fourth after leading for two-thirds of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle commented that the five-year-old showed too much early speed from the barriers and indicated that the gelding would perform better over longer distances.
It is worth noting that Makybe Diva won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2002 before going on to win her first of three Melbourne Cups the following year.
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