Pinseeker trainer hopes for fast race pace in Central Otago Cup feature at Omakau
Michael Guerin • January 2nd, 2026 9:19 AM • 4 min read
Jonny Cox is hoping his rivals go crazy in today’s $40,000 Ranfurly Transport Central Otago Cup.
The Canterbury trainer-driver believes that could set the race up for his speedster Pinseeker in the signature race at Omakau’s popular annual meeting.
Pinseeker is one of the best pacers in the 2000m mobile but had an interesting 2025, starting with a placing in this race last year, a Group 3 win in March, competing at the Inter Dominions and then choking down to finish last in the New Zealand Cup.
One thing that isn’t in doubt is his speed and once he learns to control that, he will sit comfortably in any elite-class field in this country.
That being the case, he can win today but his fortunes may be dictated by what those drawn inside him do, as he starts from the outside of the front line.
“The draw obviously isn’t ideal but it could work out okay,” says Cox.
“There is a lot of speed drawn inside him so we can’t go forward at the start so we will have to try and sneak into the running line somewhere.
“Then his chances might depend on what the others do.
“If they all get stuck into each other, we might get the chance to slingshot them late.
“What we don’t want is a horse like Wag Star or Franco Sinatra to get an easy lead and enjoy an easy time in front.”
Cox says he has had to put the dreadful New Zealand Cup experience with Pinseeker behind him and is looking forward.
“I spoke to Mark Purdon after the race as I was following him and he said he could hear our horse’s breathing wasn’t right between the 1400m and the 1000m mark and then I felt him just stop.
“So we are sure he choked down.”
Pinseeker spent two weeks at the beach in the care of fellow trainer Bob Butt soon afterwards and pleased Cox by bouncing back with a third in the Green Mile at Methven.
“He has had his joints treated since then and has been working really well so he gets his chance here, but so much will depend on how the race will be run.
“Not only do you have those speedsters drawn inside us, but a good horse in Alta Meteor drawing one on the second line by himself, so he should be able to get away from the markers and into a nice spot pretty quickly.”
Wag Star opened the $2.90 Cup favourite and was quickly backed in, but while he has the best draw of the favourites, it has been a long time since he won a race, albeit he has produced some smart performances in top-class fields.
While the Pacing Cup has a number of tempo-related scenarios, the $40,000 Trotting Cup (Race 11) looks perfect for I Dream Of Jeannie, who is in career-best form and finds herself in a field with plenty who are struggling to find their best at the moment.
Earlier in the meeting, Cox brings his talented trotter Prestigious (Race 8, No 9) to the lower-grade trot and runs into a daunting rival in He Ain’t Fakin.
The latter, a converted pacer, has won twice in three starts as a trotter and will be extremely hard to beat if his manners hold up in his first standing start.
“He will take some beating but we really like our trotter long term,” says Cox.
“Our boy is still a work in progress, the win two starts ago showed he has a good motor so he could be in for a good year.”
This article also appears on the NZ Herald website. Click here to read it there
