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Pinker Pinker Second To None

Ultra consistent mare Pinker Pinker found the perfect time to break through for a win, stepping up big time on Saturday for an unexpected victory in the Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. After back to back second placings in the Stocks Stakes behind Kings Rose and in the Epsom behind Secret Admirer, Pinker Pinker shocked most, by taking out Australasia's premier weight-for-age event by 1.3 lengths.

Jockey Craig Williams gave the mare a perfect ride, getting plenty of cover throughout the race and saving ground on the rails from the 600 metres. He peeled out as they entered the turn, finding himself in third place, behind NZ Jimmy Choux and a tiring Helmet. Jimmy Choux led by 2 with 150 metres to go, but Pinker Pinker had more left in the tank, winding up to win by just over a length.

Rekindled Interest made up late ground to finish a notable third with Wall Street and Secret Admirer flying home late to finish close behind the placegetters.

  It was a dream 7 days for Williams, who won the Caulfield Cup last weekend, the Geelong Cup on Wednesday, and finished off with the Cox Plate on Saturday. He gave a lot of the credit to the horse, who had peaked at the perfect time.

"I'm just very lucky to sit on her", he said after the race. "When she came out I thought, okay we have to chase down Jimmy Choux, but once I gave her a little reminder and asked her to extend, she was never going to be in doubt then".

"She was great...we got into a nice position. When a run presented itself I asked her to be really tough and game and I didn't even have to close my eyes. She just grit her teeth and bared it. She was awesome today".

It was Williams' second Cox Plate triumph, having been aboard a victorious Fields Of Omagh in the 2006 event.

The Cox Plate win was Pinker Pinker's sixth victory from just fifteen starts and takes her earnings to almost $2.5 million.

Trainer Greg Eurell rated the win as his best sporting performance, despite his past accolades which include competing for Australia at the 1984 Olympic Games.

"That was it for me, the top, number one", Eurell said.  

"She's (Pinker Pinker) a tribute to professionalism, that's what she is, the ultimate professional," he said.
 
 Race favourite Helmet finished a disappointing 8th, after leading for most of the race.
 
The race also ended on a sad note with Lion Tamer breaking a hind leg near the turn, and had to be put down. A dual group one winner, the four year old stayer will be missed by all.