There were renewed moments of concern, but Austin Galati found redemption for a recent mishap with Smooth Chino at Flemington this past Saturday.
The Western Australian jockey steered the accomplished sprinter to a dramatic win against Mazu in the $300,000 Group 2 McEwen Stakes over 1200 metres.
The narrow margin of victory, a nose, was not significantly different from his performance in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes on October 3, also at Flemington, where he finished a short-half-head behind Skybird due to riders easing up prematurely before the finish line.
Galati was vigilant to avoid a repeat of the previous error and expressed his gratitude for the owners’ continued trust in him.
“Thanks so much to Indi and the owners for keeping me on, especially after last time with the hiccup with the winning post, but we found it today,” Galati commented.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the horse. What an amazing team effort. Such a big credit to this horse and Indi for her second starter at Flemington – something like this is everything for us.”
This victory signifies Smooth Chino’s first win in Victoria. The Maschino gelding was previously a standout sprinter in Western Australia before relocating to Gawler, South Australia, with trainer Indianna Weinert.
Purchased for $40,000 at the Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale, the gelding has now recorded eight wins from 13 starts, with his prize money reaching $926,780 after his Saturday triumph.
Smooth Chino ($8.50) and Mazu ($14) drew clear of their rivals in the latter stages of the McEwen Stakes, with the heavily supported $2.50 favourite Extragalactic finishing a length adrift in third.
“I cannot believe it, I took the punt to buy a horse that I didn’t even have the money to pay for him on the day and what he has done for me has changed my life,” Weinert stated.
“He needs to be over this way. In WA he was going to be out of his class there and here he seems to fit in very well.”
Weinert is now eager to see how Smooth Chino performs at the elite level, with a potential start in the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) on November 7, where he could face Tempted.
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