Barinka has come a long way since winning her maiden at Hastings in November 2007.  The Levin based mare prevailed in a photo-finish to the LR Westbury Classic at Ellerslie on Wednesday to improve her record to 7 wins in 33 starts.

Barinka (6m Shinko King – Hay Barlu by Hey Baba Riba) captured her third black-type win at the expense of Her Royal Highness (Volksraad) and Queen Sabeel (Savabeel).  She had collected Listed wins at Trentham and Riccarton during her five year-old season.

The Karen Zimmerman trained mare will now be set for the G1 Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha on April 9.

Barinka’s owners also won a free service to one of Westbury Stud stallions – Postponed, Swiss Ace, Red Giant or Cecconi.  Auckland Racing Club chairman Russell Warwick and Gerry Harvey are partners in the Papakura property.

Barinka’s sire Shinko King stands at Paxton Park in Cambridge and is one a dozen stakes winners for the 20 year-old son of Fairy King.

Her dam Hay Barlu retired to stud in 2002 and Barlinka is the only one of her four foals to race.  There’s precious little black-type in the bottom half of the pedigree.  The nearest is Tawlord’s G2 Sandown Cup win in 1993.