The talented Enver Jusufovic-trained Pinstriped has won his way into this year’s Group 1 $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) field with a deserved victory at The Valley in the 2023 Feehan Stakes.

2023 Feehan Stakes winner Pinstriped enjoyed a Group 2 win at The Valley on way to a potential Cox Plate run this prep. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The progressive son of Street Boss made it two-from-two at Moonee Valley with his impressive second-up upset in the Group 2 $500,000 John F. Feehan Stakes (1600m) ahead of bigger spring targets this prep.

Having won his only other start at the track back in January of 2022, the now five-year-old showed nice improvement off a lead-up second in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) from August 19.

There he finished second to Mr Brightside who franked the form with his Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) win last Saturday.

Mr Brightside races again next weekend at headquarters in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) and looks close to a sure thing after the form out of the Lawrence continued to be franked in the Feehan.

Pinstriped was given a perfectly-timed by jockey Ben Allen who continued associations with the Cranbourne-based galloper settling back off the pace as Savatoxl swept across the face of the field to lead.

Allen stayed calm before making his move on the home straight, charging up to go stride for stride with Tuvalu who had slid up on the outside of the favourite Globe to pour the pressure on from the turn.

The previously undefeated Globe was gone at the 400m and eventually ran a clear last.

Tuvalu and Pinstriped meanwhile were flashing home up the middle of the track the final furlong with the latter eventually drawing clear with the fitness edge making all the difference on the line.

On the line Pinstriped ($8) had just a nose to spare over the flashing Attrition ($7) with Lindsey Smith’s Group 1 winner Tuvalu ($4) holding for third to complete the Feehan Stakes trifecta.

It was big late run from the luckless Mitchell Freedman-trained runner-up Attrition, fifth last start in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes, who made up ground after getting caught up in a crucial stage to run an ideal trial for a race like the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m).

Pinstriped could now target a run against the season’s best weight-for-age horses back at the track on October 28 in the 2023 Cox Plate.

“It’s like winning the Golden Ticket, I feel like I’m on that Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory movie,” Jusufovic told Racing.com post-win.

“This horse has always had the ability, but I just had to manage him properly.

“He just came back super. He’s just a horse with plenty of talent.”

The Feehan Stakes winner however is only rated a $51 shot in all-in Cox Plate odds online at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au – full markets available by clicking here.

2023 Feehan Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.