Caulfield: Pinyin in career best form but a handful for jockeys

Jim Conlan says five-year-old mare Pinyin is getting better with age even if she has a habit of finding trouble on the racetrack, no matter who rides her.

Craig Williams rides Pinyin to victory at Caulfield last year. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Jockeys best be thankful not every horse is like the talented albeit trouble-seeking Pinyin.

Regardless of whom “semi-retired” trainer Jim Conlan entrusts aboard the $300,300-earner the rising six-year-old swooper does the same thing.

Gets back, looks for trouble, finds a gap, sometimes, and rattles off fast closing sectionals.

“Jocks are a little bit of a ‘passenger’ as far as Pinyin is concerned,” Conlan said.

“Jockeys don’t make a big difference, you put Damien Oliver on, a great rider, and she ends up getting into trouble with him.

“You put a kid on, claiming 3kg and she’ll get into trouble with them on.”

Leading apprentice Thomas Stockdale has the job on Saturday at Caulfield.

Pinyin’s consistency makes up for any angst caused, as Conlan chases a seventh winner of the season.

Conlan, a five-time Group 1 winner who prepared Rekindled Interest and Miss Pennymoney among others, had not trained more than three winners in a season since 2015/16.

“When you’ve got a small team your percentage can change dramatically by virtue of one or two horses,” Conlan said.

“I thought I’d retire around the 60 mark, I’m still fit as a trout really, I’ve got dodgy knees but apart from that I’m pretty fit.

“With Covid I’m certainly glad I didn’t retire because I couldn’t have travelled (to work) like I like to do, I would’ve been stuck at home.”

Thomas Stockdale has the task of piloting Pinyin on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Living between East Malvern and Blairgowrie, on the Mornington Peninsula, with use of boxes at Pinecliff, Mt Eliza, gives Conlan the best of all worlds.

Pinyin spearheads the boutique operation, as promising three-year-old fillies Madame Bolli and Miss Keeler work through their grades.

Mister Yu Shu, owned in similar interests as Pinyin, has won twice in 12 starts.

“I’ve got half a dozen horses, ideally four or five in work and I really enjoy it,” Conlan said.

“I have got a nice collection at the moment … and the young stock coming on, they’re nice too.”

Pinyin is an $8 TAB third favourite on Saturday for the 1100m fillies and mares benchmark 84.

The Wanted filly, who boasts a win and three placings in five starts at Caulfield, relishes wet ground.

“One thing for certain she will run really well,” Conlan said.

“She’ll run a very good race whether that has her winning, who knows?

“Funny enough she’s getting better, a rising six-year-old, she’s very well looked after, never gets knocked about, doesn’t let herself be knocked about, (because) she won’t work.

“She’s in really good order and racing in the best of her career, I think she’s still got some improvement.”

Pinyin was tried at Listed level last preparation without much luck, beaten 2.7 lengths behind California Zimbol.

“She never got out, back on the fence absolutely full of running and never got a crack at them,” Conlan said.

“Pinyin tends to run up to her opposition, if she found the right race and everything panned out it wouldn’t surprise me if she managed to get to stakes level.”

Originally published as Caulfield: Pinyin in career best form but a handful for jockeys