One of Western Australia's most progressive young stables and their sprinting flagbearer are set to leave the state and instead call South Australia home as soon as June.
Trainer and Star Horse Heading East
Indianna Weinert, who trained Sunday's Group 3 Northam Stakes winner Smooth Chino, will move to Adelaide and take her budding star with her in a shock loss to WA's racing stocks.
Weinert, who is based in the Great Southern region, said the opportunity was too good to refuse, with Melbourne's spring carnival a lure later this year.
“We are relocating the stable. The Albany season is coming to an end, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do at the end of this season,” Weinert told SEN.
“It’s a long way from Perth and I didn’t want to do all that travelling in the off-season again, so this opportunity arose, and we’ve purchased a house in Adelaide with stables.
“We’re right on the Gawler racecourse. It’s just so ideal. We don’t have to go anywhere, and we’ve got the track at our doorstep.”
Weinert has trained 24 winners this season and sits in third place on the state's provincial trainer premiership behind Peter Fernie and Dan and Ben Pearce and ahead of Adam Durrant and Grant and Alana Williams.
Moving with Quality Horses
The 28-year-old will take some of her best horses in the South Australian shift, though a few owners prefer to keep their horses locally.
“Some owners have jumped aboard and said I can take their horses, and some haven’t,” she said.
“But that’s OK; I totally understand. I’m trying to just take quality over there and had to cull a few horses and say they’re not good enough to go because it’s a big thing to take horses over there.
“The team is looking pretty strong to go to Adelaide.”
Jockey Partnership Continues
Despite the move, Weinert intends on continuing the engagement of Austin Galati for Smooth Chino as the young hoop preserved his six-for-six unbeaten record on the gelding in the Northam Stakes.
Galati was removed as rider of the chestnut in the lead-up to The Quokka (1200m) last month, but connections recognise the bond the pair have.
“I think we’ve all learned our lesson. The horse runs for him and he jumps out the gates,” Weinert said.
“Austin is such a cool character, and he knows this horse, and that’s what the horse needs; just a cool character that, in the barriers when he gets worked up, can say, ‘it’s alright, mate,’.
“They trust each other, and we’ve all learned now.”
Galati is still receiving worker's compensation and allowed just three rides per race meeting after suffering a concussion in March. However, he showed no ill effects at Sunday's meeting by landing a double with the Rob Gulberti-trained Saigon Dancer.
Final WA Start and Future Plans
Weinert said that Smooth Chino would have just one more start for his WA tenure in the Group 3 $200,000 Belmont Sprint (1400m) on May 16. He would then be spelled before returning to galloping work after Weinert makes the move in late June.
“We’re going to step him up to 1400m now,” Weinert said.
“He was still finding the line yesterday over 1300m, so I think the 1400m will be ideal to see his prep out.
“The sky is the limit. He might get a bit further but not sure.
“Looking at the horse, physically, compared to last prep, he’s improved in every way.
“Yesterday was the first race day he’s done things right behind the scenes, in the tie-ups and that.
“He normally sweats up a lot and he didn’t sweat up at all yesterday. He was walking nice and standing the tie-ups, which he doesn’t normally do, so I think he’s just getting better and better.”
