Pinker Pinker: Australian Thoroughbred Racehorse

Australian thoroughbred race horse, Pinker Pinker. 

Pinker Pinker, the daughter of Reset, a son of the mighty Zabeel, may not have had the perfect start to her racing career but soon proved she was a top liner with the ability to run extended distances.

Her maiden run on the Geelong Synthetic Racetrack over 1000m in the Bianco Flyer Handicap was enough for trainer Greg Eurell to realise the filly's potential to become a champion. Jockey Chris Symons was the first to saddle Pinker Pinker and unleash her potential as a sprinter with victories over 1100 and 1200m.

She continued to impress as a three year old with Dwaye Dunn scoring major victories in the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield and the Group 3 Schweppervescence Trophy, her first mile win at the Flemington track.

She also ran a meritorious third in the Group 1 AJC Oaks at Randwick before heading for a spell. Glen Boss was next up to take the filly home in the Group 3 Let's Elope Stakes over 1400m at Flemington, which turned out to be his one and only ride.

Pinker Pinker Biggest Success

Then came Pinker Pinker's biggest success with Craig Williams. The duo came close to winning the Group 2 Spotless Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley and the Group 1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick, both over a mile, which turned out to be the perfect lead up to the W.S. Cox Plate.

Pinker Pinker and Williams obliged their connections with an impressive victory in the 2040m Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Sadly that was to be her last victory on the Australian race tracks and her final spring carnival.

Trainer Greg Eurell was always convinced of her class which is why she was given a crack at Group racing early on.

Pinker Pinker became only the sixth mare to win the premier weight for age race with Craig Williams credited with one of the best rides of his career.

Bringing the filly in from a wide barrier, Williams did well to hold her one off from the fence before bursting down Moonee Valley's home stretch to finish 1.3 lengths ahead of Jimmy Choux and go down in history as a Cox Plate winner.

The duo returned in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes to finish runner up to King Mufhasa, followed by a sixth spot in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes, which was to be her last ever tryst with the Australian race tracks.

All eyes were on the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Rosehill in Sydney. However, a bad allergic reaction to treatment during preparation for her float trip brought an end to a mare with the potential to become one of Australia 's greatest horses. According to Sara Ashworth, racing administrator of Eurell's stable,

Killer Injection

Pinker Pinker was administered the very same injection a hundred times before. The injection was to lubricate joints, a routine treatment given almost every week. However, there were no signs of warning, leaving everyone in a state of shock.

Albeit a short career, Pinker Pinker earned over $2.6 million in prize money, finishing with 6 wins from 18 starts and 5 placings.

Tragic Loss

A tragic loss to everyone in the racing industry who remains shocked and puzzled. For Eurell's stable, Pinker Pinker had taken over from where Apache Cat had left off.

Everyone will remember her as a sweet-natured, beautiful horse.