Pindari Express Flying Ahead of Racing Return

LACK of opportunities have thwarted the return to racing of Pindari Express in recent weeks, with owner/trainer Tracey Scruse resigned to the fact it may be a little longer yet until racegoers see her star chaser back at the track. 

Last seen when second to Scientific Man in fast time at Bulli over the 400m in mid-May, Pindari Express – winner at 12 of his 21 starts – has been burning up the tracks in recent trials for his much anticipated racing return.

"I can't get a run with him," said a slightly frustrated Scruse on Monday.

"I've nominated him for a 450m at Maitland the past couple of weeks but there hasn't been a race for him. I've nominated again for this week but looking at the nominations this morning it's not looking good. It is frustrating because he needs race fitness to get back up to 500-metres. It doesn't make it easy."

Recently, the group 2 winning son of Fabregas and Brook's Doll has posted two sizzling Bulli 400-metre trials running 22.18, a track and distance he holds the track record at following an astonishing 21.93 victory back in February.

"I've been hesitant to return him over 400m," explained Scruse.

"The way it's going though I'll just need to work him up to the 500m if I can't get a run. There's a few things coming up for him but the Nationals is out. I might look at the Black Top at The Gardens but I'm not sure how he'd handle that track … I was also looking at the Speed Star with him at Sandown in September."

A major obstacle for a potential Speed Star berth at Sandown is the TAB Million Dollar Chase – with the final of the Bulli qualifiers, a likely destination for Pindari Express, penciled in for Saturday, September 14 – the night before the Speed Star.

"I'll sit down later this week and work it all out – I'm very picky about where I go with him but I can't fault how he's going … he's spot on."

The TAB currently has Pindari Express a $61.00 chance for the TAB Million Dollar Chase series and while he may be ‘out of sight out of mind' currently, that may very well change in the coming fortnight and if it does, so will the price currently on the offing.