The G3 Northam Stakes (1300m) went from a near nightmare to a dream result for even-money favourite Smooth Chino in the $200,000 Avon Valley feature sprint on Sunday.
Smooth Chino (4g Maschino – Amorei by Gingerbread Man) enjoyed the run of the race behind Thermosphere Lad (Exosphere) until denied a rails run by the front-runner in the straight. Reinstated rider Austin Galati switched off heels and then sent him through a split with a quick turn of foot to score by a length from Fluro Neuro (Gingerbread Man).
“It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster,” Galati admitted after increasing his perfect strike-rate on the lightly-raced gelding to six wins in six rides. “I missed The Quokka and that was disappointing but that’s racing. He was always travelling like a winner today and there was a lot of horse underneath me when we pushed through that gap between the leader and West Star (Playing God).”
Austin Galati and Indianna Weinert (Photo / Western Racepix)
Winning trainer Indianna Weinert also has unhappy memories of The Quokka. “My heart sank when he missed the kick and then he flew home to hit the line like a serious horse. He had a week off with beach work in Albany and it’s great to have Austin back on board.”
Weinert had prepared an Albany double the previous Sunday with Brave Apache (De Gaulle) who qualified for the $100,000 WA Provincial Championship Final (1400m) on May 23 at Belmont.
Stablemate (God Has Spoken) outstayed his rivals in a Jericho Cup Qualifier (3100m) and he will likely travel to Victoria for the $300,000 Jericho Cup Final (4600m) at Warrnambool on November 29.
Weinert also has the G3 Belmont Sprint (1400m) in sight for Smooth Chino on Saturday week. The Northam Stakes increased his earnings to $664,000 and the Belmont Sprint carries a prize pool of $200,000.
Smooth Chino is owned by Weinert with Minnie Hall and Brendan Wilken after they bought him from Mogumber Park for $40,000 at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions. He was bred by Matthew Reilly with partners from Amorei who is an unraced daughter of G3 WA Oaks (2400m) winner Moreish (More Than Ready).
She has a yearling filly by Bondi and was bred back to Maschino at Alwyn Park in September.
Smooth Chino had Listed victories to his credit in the Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy and Black Heart Bart Stakes last year and he’s helped Maschino join Playing God the top of the WA Stakes-winners table this season. They have sired five each and lead that category by one from Manhattan Rain and Gingerbread Man.
