Victory of Elfee in Oamaru Cup provides boost for Pitman
IF Elfee shows as much fight as Michael Pitman has recently, she will be very hard to beat in next month’s group 3 Winter Cup at Riccarton.
The galloper took a step towards victory in the $100,000 feature by winning in yesterday’s Oamaru Cup.
Elfee justified her favouritism for the 1600m event with a comfortable win for Pitman who trains the horse with son Matthew.
The win provided a boost for Michael Pitman, who has been diagnosed with bowel cancer and is undergoing outpatient treatment at Christchurch Hospital.
Despite that, it is not stopping the trainer being actively involved in his stable.
‘‘I have had 14 radiation chemotherapy days of treatment and I have 14 more to go.
‘‘I don’t train jumpers, but I have a few hurdles to get over.
‘‘I am handling it OK. I have had a few bad days, but I am handling it OK.
‘‘I drove the truck to the track yesterday and I try to call in at the track most days.’’
Elfee is in line to win a $25,000 bonus if she can win the group 3 Winter Cup.
The mare was at $61 odds to win the race last week and dropped to just $10 after yesterday’s win.
It is not her own ability to win the race that Pitman is most concerned about.
Instead, it is her closeness in the handicaps to topweight Nashville.
‘‘It is just a joke how well Nashville gets in,’’ Pitman said.
‘‘I think it is absolutely ridiculous that Nashville got dropped a kilo for running sixth on Saturday.’’
Nashville dropped one rating point for his sixth in Saturday’s Opunake Cup.
He is in line to carry 60kg in next month’s race.
Pitman estimated Elfee could be penalised three rating points for yesterday’s win and l rise to 56kg.
Nashville, a multiple group race winner who has banked almost $1,000,000 in earnings, has been treated too well by handicappers, Pitman said.
What is in Elfee’s favour in the Winter Cup in her liking for the Riccarton track.
‘‘Her last six starts at Riccarton she has had two wins and four seconds,’’ Pitman said.
Stokers Rock boosted her Winter Cup chances by running into second placing in yesterday’s feature.
Finbarr continued his brilliant form with a bold effort for third in his first taste of open company.
RESULTS @ Page ODT 20