Allan Sharrock has another bright riding prospect on his hands.
The Taranaki trainer mentored both record-breaker Michael Walker and premiership winner Matthew Cameron during their apprenticeships and Wiremu Pinn is now looking to follow in their footsteps.
The 19-year-old made the perfect start in that pursuit when, in his firstraceday ride, he won on stable runner London Express in Saturday's New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m) at New Plymouth.
"He's got a lot of natural ability. The hardest part will be keeping his feet on the ground," Sharrock said.
London Express settled off the pace on the rail before Pinn angled into the clear 500m from home and the filly produced a sustained finish to triumph.
"I said to him if you're in the first three, you should win, but if you get back, you're going to have to ride a race, and he did it perfectly," Sharrock said. "I told him if you have to go for the stick, just stay balanced. I'm proud of him."
A daughter of Shamexpress from the family of the Gr.2 Wellington Cup (3200m) winner Megapins, London Express had been building towards her breakthrough victory having placed in both her previous appearances.
The winner's stablemate Tutta La Classe didn't give in without a fight after racing on the pace and Not Usual Jane fought on for third after racing the trail.
