Pinhook Bloodstock Purchase Bolts in at Kranji

Trainer David Hill predicted a better future for Pentagon next year even after he gave his 13 rivals no chance of a look-in on Sunday.

The English handler said the Ekraar three-year-old took out the $65,000 Hello Paris Stakes, an Initiation race over 1400m, on raw ability, and will show his real potential once he learns what racing is all about.

With the naked eye, it looked like Pentagon, who boasted only one second place in five outings, had the racing caper down pat, though – straight on the bunny from barrier No 1, allowed a breather midrace, before putting daylight on the rest by a widening margin – 4 ½ lengths from Moment Of Justice (Manoel Nunes) with Lethal Weapon (John Powell) third another length away.

The winning time was 1min 22.47secs for the 1400m on the Short Course.

But Hill said the $47 shot was hard to gauge in trackwork as he can be a “dumb” horse, although he did concede he was not without an engine. “He’s a very ignorant horse. He doesn’t know what he’s doing,” he said. “We can’t get an idea how he works as he doesn’t like the Poly. On the way he won on grass today, maybe he likes grass better, time will tell.

“But he had a good barrier today and that helped as he did show good gate speed in a couple of his races. Sam (Subian) also gets on all right with him."

“I can put him away now. I think he’ll be a much better horse when he matures and can think better, right now he’s not doing that.”

Sam, who has been the riding partner from Day 1, was on the same page as Hill about Pentagon’s immaturity, and was still none the wiser about how to extract the best out of him.

“He didn’t grab the bit at all today, and he still won. At his last run, he was on the bit, but he weakened out of it,” said a mystified Sam."

“He’s a really funny horse, very immature, but he’ll be a better horse next year. The owner (Pentagon Stable) has been around for a long time and I’m glad he got a winner today, on such a big day (Derby).”

Michael Lee – Singapore Turf Club – www.turfclub.com.sg Pentagon was a NZ$8,000 purchase for Dave Mee/Pinhook Bloodstock at the NZB South Island Sale 2014