Trainer Enver Jusufovic believes stable star Pinstriped is ready to hit peak form as he heads into Saturday’s Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield.

The gelding, now in his fourth run this campaign, has been slowly building fitness after a mixed start to the spring. A seventh in the P B Lawrence Stakes and a last-place finish in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) preceded a much-improved fifth behind Sepals in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) on September 20.

Jusufovic said the gelding, who gave him his maiden Group 1 victory in last year’s Memsie Stakes, has finally turned the corner fitness-wise and should be primed for the mile assignment. “He’s reaching peak fitness now and barriers haven’t helped in his previous runs,” Jusufovic said. “But I’m really happy with the horse and he’s drawn well to get a favourable run.”

Jamie Mott, who rode Pinstriped for the first time last start, retains the mount and is expected to settle just off the speed. “He had a better run last time but still wasn’t able to go when I would’ve liked, then got checked halfway up the straight,” Jusufovic said. “He’s a horse that needs momentum and an unimpeded run. I was very happy with how he performed and I’m looking forward to Saturday.”

Jusufovic dismissed the gelding’s on-pace effort in the Memsie Stakes as uncharacteristic. “He’s not a leader, so we’ll forget that run,” he said. “He’s well managed by the team and while he’s not over all his niggles, he’s as good as I could have him.”

“Jamie came down and galloped him on Tuesday, and his first word was ‘brilliant’. He’s just taken a few runs this time in to reach peak fitness which I think he’s doing now.”

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