A notable performer over the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, co-trainer Troy Corstens has revealed Pinstripe Lane is on track for a spring campaign that is likely to be geared towards the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on November 8th.
Pinstripe Lane is likely to Target the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes through spring. Photo: Steve Hart
Securing a competitive total of two wins and three minor places from just 12 starts so far, Pinstripe Lane returned to racing in less-than convincing form in March, however quickly built to the task on his way to back-to-back second places in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) and Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m).
Yet to confirm a starting point for the four-year-old this time in, Corstens told AAP he believes all signs point towards a VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes berth most notably.
“I reckon he’s a real Queen Elizabeth Stakes sort of horse,” Corstens said.
“The final day (of the Melbourne Cup carnival) at Flemington, I reckon that will be right up his alley and that’s our main aim at this stage.
“It’s quite hard to line up Queensland Derby form going into the spring. You don’t want to get too far ahead of yourself, because sometimes they don’t stack up.”
Appearing to lack the top gear necessary for a victory at the highest level of Australian racing through autumn and winter, Pinstripe Lane was gelded at the conclusion of his campaign, all but ending his chances for a Caulfield Cup tilt according to Corstens.
“He didn’t have that long off and being a gelding this time in, he’s a lot more clean winded than he was,” Corstens added.
“But we’ve still got to get some miles into his legs to give him a good base (of fitness) to head into the spring.”
Performing well over his maiden racing preparation through the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival, Pinstripe Lane was unlucky to finish just outside the places in his first three starts before breaking through for a maiden race win in the Trios Sports Club Plate (2060m) on September 4th.
Continuing to build in class through fourth in the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m) and third in the Group 2 Mitchelton Wines Vase, the Pins gelding earned a position in the featured Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) on November 2nd, but was unable to handle the late pace and finished a disappointing 14th.
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