Racing: Barinka in upset win

Hayden Tinsley, right, gets Barinka home in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha. Photo / Trish Dunell

Hayden Tinsley gave punters, owners and trainers in the Auckland-Waikato region a timely reminder of his riding skills when kicking home Barinka to a shock Group One victory at Te Aroha yesterday.

The lower North Island-based jockey has had a colourful and successful career restricted by an inability to ride at a lower weight - however - there is no doubting his ability to punch a horse out in a close finish.

Tinsley teamed with the 17-1 shot Barinka in the $200,000 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes, a weight-for-age, fillies and mares event.

Tinsley had Barinka nicely positioned one off the rail behind the leaders from a wide barrier draw and tracking the speed throughout.

Barinka strode up three wide to challenge on the home turn and showed plenty of stamina and determination when it mattered scoring by a head over Smoulder with a further neck back to the pace setting Fleur de Line (third).

"It has certainly being a long time since I won my last Group One race as a trainer but this is certainly an enjoyable moment for me," said successful trainer Karen Zimmerman after the race.

"The draw worried me but Hayden [Tinsley] had a plan to overcome that and the track conditions certainly helped us."

Barinka, a 6-year-old daughter of Shinko King, has been a consistent performer scoring eight wins and 12 minor placings from 34 starts.

"I gave her one or two behind the saddle on the home turn and there was no response but I knew she was trying her out heart out.

"I got her over and one off the fence behind the speed and never gave in," said Tinsley.

The favourite Guiseppina settled back in the running but failed to quicken on the tricky track conditions battling into a midfield finishing position.

Shaune Ritchie arrived at Te Aroha unsure how the wet track conditions would impact on most of his stable runners - except for up and coming stayer - Roi d'jeu.

On slow track conditions the gelded son of Montjeu grows another leg - as was demonstrated - in the $40,000 Te Aroha Cup.

Roi d'jeu made it three wins from four starts on slow track conditions when powering through the Te Aroha track to score by three-quarters of a length over the Nick Duin-trained Payback.

A further 1 lengths back in third place was Seaflyte.

The 5-year-old was given a break from racing after a battling last-start seventh placing in the $1 million Auckland Cup at Ellerslie.

A drop in class and racing distance from 3200m to 2200m played right into the hands of Roi d'jeu who now presents Ritchie with some exciting autumn-winter racing options in New Zealand or possibly Australia.