Brett Cavanough could err on the side of caution and consider dodging the NSW Country Championships with his promising 3yo Pinnacle Prince.
Qualifiers for the NSW Country Championships commence next month leading up to the $400,000 Final at Randwick on April 3. “Time is on his side and we’re in no rush,” Cavanough said after the colt lifted late to win a TAB Highway Hcp (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday. “I don’t have a plan but we will do what is best for him because he’s a very nice horse.
“I would prefer to keep him in Highways for now or we might step up to black-type. There’s no cap where he might go.”
Pinnacle Prince (Hinchinbrook) has been a work in progress for Cavanough and Vinery partner Greg Perry who elected to keep him instead of accepting a final bid of $100,000 at the 2019 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
His current asking price would be near tenfold that valuation in Hong Kong. He has only been beaten once in four starts and that was at the hands of stablemate It’s Me who went on to win the $1.30 million Kosciuszko at Randwick in October.
“The Highways give him the chance to learn more and be tested against some older handy horses,” Cavanough added. “They have been a great asset for good bush horses and James McDonald has been really impressed with him.”
“He’s a big boy and might be special. That’s the good thing about Greg. There’s no pressure. He’s been with me for a long time and we’ve had some good ones. He wants to get the best out of his horses and is prepared to wait.”
Perry bought his dam Crossyourheart (NZ) for $480,000 at the 2014 Inglis Bloodstock Sale. She won a Karaka Million and NZ Bloodstock Classique RL and had already foaled Ming Dynasty Hcp Gr.3 winner Swear (Redoute’s Choice).
Crossyourheart’s latest foal is a final Australian-crop colt by More Than Ready (USA).
