Pinn MK II Returns to Australia with New Intent

Meanwhile, highly regarded riding talent Wiremu Pinn has returned to Australia with renewed ambition, this time targeting Sydney as his next riding frontier. According to NZ Racing Desk, the 26-year-old New Zealander arrived last week for a winter stint in New South Wales and admits that if the opportunity proves fruitful, it may become more than a seasonal stopover. "It (riding in Sydney) was always in the back of my mind," Pinn said. "I seemed to do pretty well in Melbourne and racing in New Zealand over winter quietens down, and the prizemoney is pretty good here in Sydney, so I thought I would come over and have a crack." His domestic campaign in New Zealand finished on a high note, with 40 wins including eight at stakes level – two of them Gr1 victories aboard El Vencedor – netting over $2.8 million in prizemoney. Yet despite those achievements, the allure of Australian racing proved too strong to ignore. Pinn previously rode in Melbourne as an apprentice in 2023 under Michael Kent at Cranbourne, with his biggest result a Listed win aboard Dolphin Skin in the Taj Rossi Series Final. Plans to settle in Victoria were shelved when his partner, fellow rider and former NZ Champion Apprentice Tayla Mitchell, was unable to secure a local licence. "I was doing pretty well over there and wanted to stay, but I didn't want to hold her back from having a future," Pinn said. "She wants to ride as well, so I don't want to stop her from doing that just because I am doing well. I can always go home and ride and that was the reason for coming home." This time around, Pinn has aligned himself with champion trainer Chris Waller, and he's committed to making the most of the opportunity. "I am going to base myself with Chris and I am going to prioritise him," he said. "If he needs me, I will show up to his place, but I am happy to go and ride outside work for people that want to give me rides. I have still got some old connections from Melbourne that are happy to support me and there are a few Kiwi trainers over here that will hopefully give me some rides." He's also grateful for the support from fellow expats Rory Hutchings and Lee Magorrian, who encouraged him to make the move. Wasting no time, Pinn jumped into trials on Thursday after touching down on Wednesday and hopes to land a few rides at Rosehill this weekend. While it's officially just a winter venture for now, he's open to staying longer. "Riding over here is the next level and I feel like I am ready for that at this stage of my career," he shared.