News

Cox Plate winner Pinker Pinker may go to Hong Kong

6th Dec 2011

Herald Sun - Adrian Dunn & Michael Manley - Monday, 5 December 2011

Cox Plate winner Pinker Pinker has returned to Greg Eurell's stables, but it's unlikely she will be an Australian Cup contender in the autumn.

Eurell has not finalised Pinker Pinker's campaign, but a trip to Hong Kong for the 2000m Queen Elizabeth II Cup in late April is a consideration.

Pinker Pinker is likely to resume in the 1400m Futurity Stakes, a race also on Black Caviar's schedule, at Caulfield on February 25 before heading to the Sydney carnival.

"She may kick off in the Futurity, then the Chipping Norton (1600m, Warwick Farm, March 10) and weave our way through Sydney," Eurell said.

"The (March 10) Australian Cup comes up a little quick and you are sort of left with nothing if you go there. Ideally, if we can get four or five runs in this time in, then put her out and give her another go at the spring."

Eurell said it was likely Pinker Pinker would be nominated for the Doncaster Handicap at Randwick on April 21, but she is expected to stick to weight-for-age races because "the handicaps are going to be a killer for her".

Peter Moody is uncertain what the early part of next year will hold for one-time Caulfield Cup favourite Lights Of Heaven.

Lights Of Heaven, one of several four-year-old mares who did not reproduce their three-year-old form in the spring, is spelling at Moody's Belgrave South property.

"Only in the last week has she started to blossom. If she needs another six weeks, I'll give it to her. If she's right next week, I'll bring her in," Moody said.

"She just didn't look good at any stage during the spring."

Aquanita trainer Robert Smerdon won't use the autumn to test the theory that VRC Oaks winner Mosheen is not really a stayer.

Despite Mosheen winning the Oaks by nine lengths, Smerdon said she was better suited up to 1600m.

Smerdon said yesterday Mosheen's autumn focus would be on Sydney, with the 1500m Coolmore Classic at Rosehill and 1600m Doncaster her goals.

Smerdon said the Australian Guineas (Flemington, March 3) would come too quickly for Mosheen and she would have a couple of lead-in runs in Melbourne before heading to Sydney.

Mosheen returned to Smerdon's stables last week and he was pleased with her condition.

"She did well in the time she had out. She's got a great constitution," Smerdon said.