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Gawler trainer targets Group 1 Manikato Stakes with Smooth Chino - Gawler, SA
Smart summary
Horse trainer Indianna Weinert has relocated to Gawler as she prepares promising gelding Smooth Chino for a potential Group 1 breakthrough.
Gawler has become the new base for rising South Australian horse trainer Indianna Weinert as she prepares one of her most successful horses, Smooth Chino, for a potential campaign at the highest level of Australian racing.
Weinert, 29, recently moved her training operation from Western Australia to Gawler, giving her stable easier access to major racing opportunities across South Australia and the eastern states. Her immediate focus is Smooth Chino, a five-year-old gelding who has already established an impressive record and could be aimed at the $2 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes later this month.
Smooth Chino is scheduled to return to racing after a four-month break in the Listed Wylie Handicap over 1100 metres at Morphettville. The race is an important test for the gelding because his performance could determine whether his connections proceed with a nomination for the Manikato Stakes.
The Manikato Stakes is scheduled for 27 September at Caulfield this year while The Valley undergoes redevelopment. A strong performance at Morphettville could therefore open the door for Smooth Chino to take on some of Australia's best sprinters in a Group 1 race.
Smooth Chino has already won seven races from only 10 starts and has accumulated $679,530 in prizemoney. His record includes several stakes-level victories, demonstrating why Weinert and the horse's owners are considering a major step up in competition.
The gelding has also developed a strong partnership with jockey Austin Galati, who has ridden him in six of his seven victories. Galati is travelling from Western Australia to partner Smooth Chino again, reflecting the confidence the team has in their established combination.
Weinert said the horse had produced an encouraging trial ahead of his return and indicated she expected him to perform strongly. However, she has stressed that the Manikato Stakes is not yet guaranteed and that the decision will depend partly on how Smooth Chino performs at Morphettville.
The move to Gawler represents an important stage in Weinert's own training career. Since beginning her career in 2021, she has recorded 51 winners and now has about 20 horses in her Gawler stable. She is still chasing her first South Australian victory, although two of her runners recently finished second at Murray Bridge.
Weinert has described Smooth Chino as a horse that has had a major impact on her career. The gelding was purchased as a $40,000 yearling and has gone on to generate more than $679,000 in prizemoney. His success has also provided Weinert with opportunities to compete in major races around Australia.
Smooth Chino's previous major assignment was the $5 million The Quokka in Western Australia in April, where he finished seventh after missing the start. His return to racing at Morphettville will provide an important indication of his current form.
For Gawler, Weinert's relocation adds another high-profile racing operation to the region's established horse-training industry. The town and surrounding Barossa region have long been associated with thoroughbred racing and training, making it a strategic base for trainers seeking access to South Australian racing facilities.
The immediate attention, however, will be on Smooth Chino's performance at Morphettville. A strong return could lead to a Group 1 opportunity only weeks later, giving Weinert the chance to chase the biggest win of her young training career.
For now, the Manikato Stakes remains a target rather than a confirmed start. Weinert and the owners will assess the horse's performance before making the final decision.
ChinoSmoothWeinertRacingGawler
Gawler has become the new base for rising South Australian horse trainer Indianna Weinert as she prepares one of her most successful horses, Smooth Chino, for a potential campaign at the highest level of Australian racing.
Weinert, 29, recently moved her training operation from Western Australia to Gawler, giving her stable easier access to major racing opportunities across South Australia and the eastern states. Her immediate focus is Smooth Chino, a five-year-old gelding who has already established an impressive record and could be aimed at the $2 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes later this month.
Smooth Chino is scheduled to return to racing after a four-month break in the Listed Wylie Handicap over 1100 metres at Morphettville. The race is an important test for the gelding because his performance could determine whether his connections proceed with a nomination for the Manikato Stakes.
The Manikato Stakes is scheduled for 27 September at Caulfield this year while The Valley undergoes redevelopment. A strong performance at Morphettville could therefore open the door for Smooth Chino to take on some of Australia's best sprinters in a Group 1 race.
Smooth Chino has already won seven races from only 10 starts and has accumulated $679,530 in prizemoney. His record includes several stakes-level victories, demonstrating why Weinert and the horse's owners are considering a major step up in competition.
The gelding has also developed a strong partnership with jockey Austin Galati, who has ridden him in six of his seven victories. Galati is travelling from Western Australia to partner Smooth Chino again, reflecting the confidence the team has in their established combination.
Weinert said the horse had produced an encouraging trial ahead of his return and indicated she expected him to perform strongly. However, she has stressed that the Manikato Stakes is not yet guaranteed and that the decision will depend partly on how Smooth Chino performs at Morphettville.
The move to Gawler represents an important stage in Weinert's own training career. Since beginning her career in 2021, she has recorded 51 winners and now has about 20 horses in her Gawler stable. She is still chasing her first South Australian victory, although two of her runners recently finished second at Murray Bridge.
Weinert has described Smooth Chino as a horse that has had a major impact on her career. The gelding was purchased as a $40,000 yearling and has gone on to generate more than $679,000 in prizemoney. His success has also provided Weinert with opportunities to compete in major races around Australia.
Smooth Chino's previous major assignment was the $5 million The Quokka in Western Australia in April, where he finished seventh after missing the start. His return to racing at Morphettville will provide an important indication of his current form.
For Gawler, Weinert's relocation adds another high-profile racing operation to the region's established horse-training industry. The town and surrounding Barossa region have long been associated with thoroughbred racing and training, making it a strategic base for trainers seeking access to South Australian racing facilities.
The immediate attention, however, will be on Smooth Chino's performance at Morphettville. A strong return could lead to a Group 1 opportunity only weeks later, giving Weinert the chance to chase the biggest win of her young training career.
For now, the Manikato Stakes remains a target rather than a confirmed start. Weinert and the owners will assess the horse's performance before making the final decision.
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