Indianna Weinert’s biggest day in racing came with an unforgettable win as her rising star, Smooth Chino, stormed home to claim the $250,000 Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy (1200m). The unbeaten gelding, piloted by Austin Galati, has now won all three of his starts and announced himself as a serious contender for bigger races to come.
However, the path to Magic Millions glory wasn’t straightforward. Weinert’s trip from Albany was a logistical nightmare, nearly preventing Smooth Chino from making it to the starting gates at all.
“We had two flat tyres on the way,” Weinert revealed on Tabradio. “After fixing the first, something got bent, which caused another blowout just 2km later.”
Stranded, she was forced to seek help from a local farmer, Ross, who arranged for a friend’s float—albeit one without a front windscreen. Against all odds, Weinert and Smooth Chino made it to the track just 30 minutes before race time.
Despite the drama, Smooth Chino remained unbothered. “He’s such a relaxed horse,” Weinert said. “With all the chaos going on, he just took everything in his stride.”
Weinert admitted she was nervous mid-race, thinking her gelding was too far back. But with an electrifying turn of foot, Smooth Chino mowed down his rivals, making it a moment to cherish for his trainer.
“It was stressful, but to win like that—it made everything worthwhile.”
With his unbeaten record intact, Smooth Chino will now head for a well-earned spell before Weinert decides on his next steps.
“I haven’t mapped anything out yet,” she said. “He’s done a lot this prep, so I just want to give him time to enjoy being a horse.”
Purchased for $40,000 at the Magic Millions sales, Smooth Chino has already banked $169,800 in prize money. Weinert recalls how she knew he was special from the moment she saw him.
“He was being walked up for another trainer at the sales,” she said. “I saw him from a distance and just knew I wanted him.”
Weinert’s journey into racing started in eventing before she moved into thoroughbreds, working with leading Albany trainer Roy Rogers. She later trained under David Harrison in Serpentine, initially aiming to be a jockey before weight issues shifted her focus to training.
Since earning her trainer’s license in 2021, she has prepared 18 winners from 294 starters, with Carlin Road giving her a first taste of success at Narrogin.
Now, with Smooth Chino in her stable, the future looks brighter than ever.
