In recent seasons, Pinstriped has been a consistent participant in the late winter weight-for-age races.
However, following an extended break after last year’s spring campaign, Pinstriped is set to gain a fitness advantage over his spring rivals when he resumes in the Sportsbet Fixed Odds Exotics Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
For the past three years, trainer Enver Jusufovic has traditionally commenced Pinstriped’s spring campaign in the upcoming Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
While Jusufovic is again targeting that race, where Pinstriped has secured second place twice and finished seventh last year, the Cranbourne-based trainer desired an earlier run for the gelding this season.
Pinstriped has not competed since finishing fifth in the Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham in December, but he has completed two jump-outs in preparation for his Saturday engagement.
Jusufovic opted to give Pinstriped a more significant break after last year’s spring, feeling the gelding was not performing at his peak.
“Physically, I thought he was in great shape, he just didn’t really come up,” Jusufovic stated.
“He was hesitant to go into the barriers on most occasions and then slow out and was getting that pair further back than you would have liked.
“I made the effort to give him a long break. He had a good four months, and I thought I would work him a little bit different this time, more from a sprinting mould and he’s come back really nice and bright.
“His action is good, his back is brilliant, I couldn’t be happier with it, and you see him rolling all-the-time now.
“He does a lot of dressage and is leading on his right leg and he’s done so much of it, he could go to a show.”
Pinstriped contends with ‘kissing spine’ issues, leading Jusufovic to incorporate dressage rather than pursue surgical intervention.
Jusufovic explained that the dressage work serves as conditioning, akin to human gym routines, for enhancing horses’ hindquarters.
“With dressage, you are getting them to use their body properly,” Jusufovic commented.
“He’s using his hind quarter which builds them up, so it is a bit similar to gym work where you do the exercises properly to build those areas.”
Jusufovic has no specific plans beyond the P B Lawrence Stakes, preferring to assess Pinstriped’s performance on Saturday and in his subsequent run.
“Lachie Neindorf trialled him last week and was of the opinion to keep him on the fresh side and he suggested 1400 (metres) first-up,” Jusufovic conveyed.
“This race came up and while he’s got 62 kilos, he’s a big horse and can carry it.
“He probably deserves the weight and it’s a good time to kick him off, nice and early, and after this run, he can have a week off.
“He can go to the P B Lawrence but after that, nothing’s set in concrete and it all depends on each performance, keep him fresh, rather than go two weeks, two weeks, two weeks.
“It appears there’s a bit more depth in the Group 1 ranks this year, so we can pick what we want to do.
“Hopefully I don’t have the same prep I had with him last time, otherwise there might not be another prep with him.”
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