Pins Potent Stakes Power Plain To See

12 September 2011

The potent stakes power of Pins was plain for all to see over the weekend.

Adding on to the earlier US stakes win by Our Nautique in the Listed Joseph Grace Handicap (1700m), his 3YO son Antonio Lombardo added stakes winner # 2 for the season so far with a 5.5 length demolition of rivals in the Listed Westbury Stud Challenge Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka.

The same weekend also saw the sire shine with maiden winner Elpins and with the exciting Hong Kong galloper Smart Giant.

Last season, Pins emerged as New Zealand’s leading producer of individual stake winners with 10 black-type stars.

These 2010/11 stand outs comprised:

Ambitious Dragon
Antonio Lombardo
Katie Lee
Icepin
Legsman
Lucha Libra
Almodovar
Bespoke
Undisclosed &
Our Nautique.

The Corner with Garry Chittick

Well, it was finally our turn. Mary and I shared in the joy of winning a race; we were there, of course. We could have settled in, in front of the TV – not driven the 50 minutes each way, but the emotions are entirely different.

14 September 2025

Smart Love too smart this start

Smart Love (Savabeel ex Relentless Desire) made a winning return at Te Rapa on 14 September, storming home by 3.3 lengths. Racing in Garry Chittick’s colours, the four-year-old mare impressed for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott after two solid trials.