Racing: Cruising colt turns on class when it counts

Pinot Grigio is New Zealand's most-improved 3-year-old - which only underlines just how good hotshot Jokers Wild is.

The crack colt beat Pinot Grigio by only three-quarters of a length in Saturday's Wellington Guineas but it may as well have been 10 lengths.

"That was a real class performance," says rider Michael Coleman, who believes there is a still a touch of maturity to be released in Jokers Wild.

Everyone thought a gallant Pinot Grigio was going to make a race of it when he got to within a head of Jokers Wild at the 300m, but Coleman was never concerned.

"He did more than I wanted him to do in front when he got taken on by Lord at the 800m and I tried to get him as relaxed as I could when I got the opportunity.

"My bloke was coasting when Pinot Grigio got to within a head, and once he saw the other horse, he got going again and quickly put three-quarters of a length on him.

"It was just a class performance."

There was nearly five lengths to Alberto, who had pushed Jokers Wild close in the Hawkes Bay Guineas.

Only bad luck, or possibly the unlikely event of a very wet track, can beat Jokers Wild in the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 18.

The colt's temperament is completely different from when he was a juvenile last season, but he still has a way to go.

He lost a tooth being saddled on Saturday and Coleman says he is still not quite the professional racehorse he will almost certainly end up being.

"It will be scary when he becomes completely professional."

The TAB has had Jokers Wild at $1.80-$1.85 for the 2000 Guineas and has shortened him into $1.65 with Saturday's win.

He almost looks overs at that, particularly when you can get only $6.50 about Pinot Grigio and $9 for Imananabaa and $7 for Naturo.

Sands Of Time, well beaten on Saturday in his first attempt in the higher grade, is at only $10 for the 2000 Guineas and Alberto, who has now shown he cannot beat Jokers Wild on a firm track, is at $11.

The TAB dramatically shortened New Zealand Cup favourite Pentathon into a tight $2.50 after his perfect trial to win Saturday's $40,000 Helen Southey House Of Travel 2200m at Hastings.

New rider Gavin McKeon gave Pentathon the perfect rails run and he dashed away in the second half of the home straight, carrying 4.5kg more than when he had won at Hastings at his previous start.

* Shinko Prince might not be the easiest horse Davina Waddell has trained, but he has plenty of talent.

The 6-year-old resumed from a break with a dashing performance to win easily at Ellerslie on Saturday after becoming unsettled at the starting gates.

Shinko Prince mixed his distances a little last preparation and showed he was not far away from some very smart types.

He was good enough to finish only 2.6 lengths from Cog Hill in the group two Rich Hill Mile at Ellerslie on January 1.

Interestingly, the horse that finished two lengths ahead in fourth place that day, Alonzo, finished second to him yesterday. Shinko Prince raced clear in the closing stages, but Alonzo, similarly resuming from a spell, is a definite improver.