Pinker Pinker enhances Culfield Cup claim

By Mark Ryan

MELBOURNE, Sept 3 AAP - Greg Eurell says it's a big jump up to taking on the boys during spring but he still regards Pinker Pinker as a Caulfield Cup prospect following her win in the Group Two Let's Elope Stakes at Flemington.

The four-year-old daughter of Reset won her third Group race after wins last autumn in the Group Two Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and the Group Three Schweppervescence Trophy (1600m) at Flemington.

Ridden by Glen Boss, Pinker Pinker ($6.50) threaded her way through the field to hit the front early in the straight and toughed it out to hold out Mid Summer Music ($6) by a neck with Parables ($3.40 fav) a length away third.

"It was a terrific effort. Her first-up effort (when fifth to Mid Summer Music in the Group Three Cockram Stakes over 1200 metres at Caulfield) was very, very good and the step up to the 1400 metres today was ideal," Eurell said.

"She's very strong second-up. It was a good effort and she didn't get knocked around in the run and ideally we'd like to step up to the mile next week at Moonee Valley."

That race is the Group Two WH Stocks Stakes (1600m).

"It's a big step out of mares grade to take on the boys so we'll just take it step by step. Ideally she'll step up to a 2000-metre race after the Stocks and we'll work it out from there depending how she's going," Eurell said.

"She's nicely weighted in the Caulfield Cup (50kg) and she can run the trip easily enough," he added of the AJC Australian Oaks (2400m) third placegetter.

"Hopefully we pick the right races along the way and being a mare give her confidence and don't make the runs too hard.

"She's honest as the day's long. Every time she comes in for a prep she's the same, she's just very black and white, she just goes home and eats and you can't ask for any more."

Boss said he got it wrong on Pinker Pinker by getting out early on her.

"She normally takes 100 metres before she comes to her top but today she took me by surprise. She sprinted very quickly and all of a sudden I'm left in front a long way from home," he said.

"Her effort to hang on was very tough and genuine."