Linky Dink wins maiden in a Group 1 race
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Peter Robl returns to scale aboard his first winner at Eagle Farm, Linky Dink (Noel Pascoe photo)
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Trainer Jason Coyle was exuberant in his celebrations and was physically shaking after his second Group 1 win since moving to the Patinack Farm stable.
The win came with Linky Dink in the Group 1 Racetree T.J. Smith Plate 1600m.
From three starts Linky Dink (F2 Keeper-Gimmick NZ) was yet to post a win or even a placing but when she stepped up to the 1600m over heavy ground, the bottom weight in the two-year-old race broke her maiden status.
Peter Robl, who rode the filly in her first start in a 2YO Handicap at Rosehill, guided her from barrier six at Eagle Farm on Saturday, June 6.
It was Robl’s first ride and first win at Eagle Farm and he was delighted to achieve the victory.
“It’s the first Group winner I’ve rode in Brisbane so it’s up there with the good ones I’ve ridden,” he said.
Robl got Linky Dink away to a good quick start and they drove up to sit in the boxseat leaving Spot on Target (Glen Boss) to lead.
They started to move up and around the leader with 800m to go.
As they straightened Linky Dink continued to put pressure on Spot on Target but it wasn’t until the last 100m that he got up to beat him by two lengths.
Southport (Shane Scriven) placed third by a length and a quarter.
Robl was glad Linky Dink finally posted a win. “She’s been getting back in the shorter races,” he said.
“Today there wasn’t a lot of speed in the race so I decided to ride her positive so that way at least she’s on the bridle up travelling and she’s only got to make a couple of lengths up.
“We’re glad that she found those couple of lengths.
“We’d always had an opinion of her even her last one was probably a bit disappointing but in saying that she got a long way off them and probably made up six or seven lengths so the run probably wasn’t as bad as it looked on paper.
“We were confident that if she raced up to her work prior to coming up to Brisbane she could win.
“I felt she’s going to be a nice filly come her three-year-old career so it’s good that she can break her maiden status in a Group 1 race.”
Linky Dink joins colt Onemorenomore as the other two-year-old Group 1 winner for Patinack Farm. Jason Coyle trained Onemorenomore to win the Group 1 Champagne 2YO Stakes 1600m.
“Group 1 two-year-old miles I love them,” exclaimed Coyle after the win.
“All her rides have been aiming towards the mile and that’s what we got today.
“He rode her great and the horse has done so well up here.”
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Hollie Roberts – June 7
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