Prominent owners Lex and Shirley Piper had three horses engaged in the feature race, the Beaufine Stakes (1000m), and expected none of them to win.
But thanks to a brilliant ride by Pat Carbery, Pininci rained on the parade that was expected to see the unbeaten Smoko and Magnifisio fight out the finish.
Instead the glamour pair had to be content in filling the places, both being well held by Pininci.
Carbery was content to “cuddle” his charge midfield, on the rails, as Modello set the pace. “He jumped well from the inside and it was the best he has ever gone.He went to the line really strongly.”
Not noted for having a long sustained run, Carbery kept Pininci on the fence until passing Modello in the straight. “I may have still gone a bit early on him but he has a competitive nature and this was really pleasing.
Smoko had to work hard early and it was another Piper owned galloper, Rouge Dior, that prevented him getting closer than three deep. He lost no supporters with his second placing.
The win gave the holidaying trainer David Harrison a double for the day as Carbery had also won for him on Benito in the third race.
Harrison’s new foreman, Brock Lewthwaite, said the horse was regarded as a 1000m specialist but judged by his strong performance he may be tried over 1200m. “He is also by Pins which would indicate he should get more ground.”
Carbery went on to win a treble when he won the following race with Trade Down for George Daly.
Castle Retreat Wins Thriller
Paul Jordan and his large army of owners saw their horse Castle Retreat (Steven Parnham) win a thriller in a dogged duel with Hellyer. The pair had the race to themselves down the straight although Angel Sky finished well for third.
Earlier this year the skills of Ascot veterinary surgeon, Josie Leuton, enabled the Castle Retreat to continue as a racing proposition, after needing a throat operation.
Steven Parnham took the winning ride when his brother Brad was committed to ride Prickly Feet for their father, Neville.
Lucy Warwick continued her scintillating form of recent weeks. Fresh from a mid-week double she continued her love affair with greys, this time on Rive Gauche for her father Justin Warwick.
“He doesn’t like being hit with the whip and I had to resist the urge to give him a couple of slaps,” she said. Rive Gauche virtually led throughout and relaxed well under his light weight.
He was untroubled to fight off another grey, Gladstone, in the run to the line.