WA expat Indianna Weinert trained a running double at Gawler yesterday and she has more winning chances at Flemington on Saturday and Murray Bridge next Wednesday.
The move to South Australia has suited Weinert’s older mares Champagne Jenni (National Defense) and Win To Retire (Galah) who both saluted under stable jockey Austin Galati at Gawler on Friday.
Win To Retire (pictured) is a daughter of Galah (Redoute’s Choice) who had already transferred interstate from WA and is currently covering his third book at Tarrington Stud in Victoria.
Smooth Chino (5g Maschino – Amorei by Gingerbread Man) has opened at $7 for the G2 McEwen Stakes (1200m) at Flemington later today behind $2.60 favourite Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain).
Weinert’s stable star is coming off placings in the LR Wylie Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville and G2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington since a closer-to-home G3 Northam Stakes (1300m) victory in May.
“He looks amazing and is the best I’ve ever seen him,” Galati declared ahead of a second start at Headquarters. “He handled the straight-six well first-up and will improve off it. I couldn’t be happier and more confident going into the race. ”
“I did a couple of slow laps on him earlier in the week and he feels so good. He’s off his head and is ready to go.”
Smooth Chino has earned over $746,000 in a dozen starts for Weinert and fellow part-owners Brendan Wilken and Minnie Hall. He was bred by Wilken and cost $40,000 from Mogumber Park (as agent) at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions.
Skytalker (6g I’m All The Talk- Angel Sky by Hurricane Sky) has been nominated for the Davey Water Hcp (1400m) at the Murray Bridge midweek meeting. He was bred and sold by Forest View Farm for $40,000 at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
He flashed ability on debut as a 2yo at Belmont when flying home to finish a neck second to subsequent G2 WATC Derby winner A Lot Of Good Men (A Lot). And he impressed Willie Pike after a TBWA Winner Of The Week performance in May 2024. “He’s a lovely horse with a good brain,” Pike said. “He jumped fast and I could have been closer but decided to sit back, cut the corner and then ease into the open.”
His dam Angel Sky is four-from-four at stud after Playing God filly Azure Angel won a Scone 3yo Maiden for Mulberry Racing and trainer Brad Widdup last season. Her yearling is another Playing God filly owned by Russell Clarke and she foaled a Maschino colt last month.
