For match race spoilers, the emotional and long overdue major victory of Pinstriped (Street Boss ) in the Aug. 31 Memsie Stakes (G1) at Caulfield will live long in the memory.
Melbourne’s traditional first top-tier spring race, contested at 1,400 meters (about 7 furlongs), was hyped as a two-horse battle between seasoned group 1 scorer Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai ) and Mr. Brightside (Bullbars ).
The two 7-year-olds met five times last season, with Pride Of Jenni winning thrice and Mr Brightside once. This first-up rematch arrived with a promotion akin to a boxing match.
But In the end, they ran second and fifth in their two-horse race, as Pinstriped—who powered down the outside to win a stirring battle with Mr Brightside, grabbing victory by about a half-length. Mr Brightside’s Team Hayes stablemate Gentleman Roy (So You Think) was third for his second group 1 placing.
🔸 Victorian-bred & -sired G1 Winner 🔹
Pinstriped (ex Snitzel Blitz) powers home under @bennallen44 to score the G1 Memsie S. for @jusufovicracing at @MelbRacingClub Caulfield 🏆
Bred by @NoorilimPark, he’s by @DarleyAus’ Victorian-based sire, Street Boss. Congratulations to… pic.twitter.com/i2vjB4MkIE
— TBV (@vicbreeders) August 31, 2024
Pinstriped brought a rare scene-stealing day for popular Cranbourne trainer Enver Jusufovic, who has some 40 horses on his books, is known for his love of the equally battling St Kilda AFL club, and had never won a group 1 in 26 years in the game.
Little wonder Jusufovic became emotional as Pinstriped—bearing his stable’s St Kilda-themed colors of red, white and black—returned to scale bearing young jockey Ben Allen, himself celebrating only his second top-tier success.
The six-year-old gelding was bought by Jusufovic in conjunction with Gary Mudgway Bloodstock for just AU$80,000 from the Noorilim Park draft at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale of 2019. He’s now won his connections AU$1.69 million.
Pinstriped is the second and best of five foals—three of whom have raced—for his dam Snitzel Blitz, a Ballarat maiden winner from seven starts.
He’s also finally converted his great early promise—wins in his first three starts and a group 2 and a group 3 victory—plus five fruitless attempts at group 1, into a top-tier success.
“It’s just a lot of relief,” Jusufovic told Racing.com, reflecting on his introduction to the industry as a racetrack newspaper seller from the hard streets of Melbourne’s west.
“Footscray boy, selling Heralds at Flemington —here I am. We’ll be off to the pub tonight, I think.”
Amid blustery conditions, the Memsie was a tale of contrasting preparations, with the big two resuming and Pinstriped second-up, after a close second over the same course in the Lawrence Stakes (G2) two weeks previously.
While Pride Of Jenni adopted her usual front-running role, Allen settled Pinstriped beautifully in fifth, one off the fence and trailing Mr Brightside.
Pride Of Jenni’s run ended uncharacteristically abruptly early in the straight as Mr. Brightside took the lead at the 200 meters, but he ultimately didn’t have the armory to fend off the rival to his right.
Jusufovic said a tilt at another top-level event—the Makybe Diva Stakes (G1) at 1,600 meters on Sept. 14—was now on Pinstriped’s horizon, while the six-year-old may also attempt to reprise his previous best win in the Feehan Stakes (G2) over the same distance on Sept. 27.
