Savvy Coup going straight to trophy race
WELLINGTON: Savvy Coup is on track to continue along the group 1 path at Hastings on September 1.
Yaldhurst trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman will run the stable star freshup in the Tarzino Trophy (1400m) without the benefit of a trial.
‘‘I’m hoping to be able to give her a serious gallop on the course proper at Riccarton before going to Hastings,’’ Michael Pitman said.
‘‘She had a good break after the Oaks in Sydney and she’s come back looking good. Physically, she has improved since last campaign. She’s a lot stronger.’’
Savvy Coup is a finalist in the champion 3yrold category of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Awards on the strength of consistently good performances at top level throughout last season.
She recorded five wins and four placings from 12 starts including victory in the group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and two other legs of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year series, and the Eulogy Stakes (1550m) and Lowland Stakes (2100m). The daughter of Savabeel also picked up significant placings with thirds in the group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) and the listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m).
‘‘She was a good chance to win the filly of the year series, but we decided to stick with the plan and run her in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic. After all, it was worth $1 million and she was unlucky to not finish closer than third [promoted from fourth],’’ Pitman said.
Savvy Coup has been nominated for the $A5 million [$NZ5.51 million] Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 27.
‘‘I know it’s a bit of a pipe dream, but it doesn’t hurt to nominate and see how things go.
‘‘We know she can handle the trip [distance] and the travelling won’t bother her. She is the only one we took to Sydney and it didn’t faze her at all without a mate. In fact, nothing fazes her.
‘‘Possibly the Matriarch Stakes over 2000m later at the Melbourne carnival could suit her best. My brother, John, won it as an owner several years ago (with Sutology in 2005) and it’s become a strong race.’’ But before stepping foot on a plane again, Savvy Coup will make an appearance in all three group 1 weightforage races at the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival.
‘‘She’ll come home after the Tarzino Trophy then go back for the Windsor Park Plate and on to the Livamol Classic. She’s early favourite with the bookies for the Livamol and if she happened to win it we’d have to look seriously at running her in the Cox Plate.’’
The Pitman stable also has Son Of Maher on target to run freshup in the Tarzino Trophy and, like Savvy Coup, he will be going in without a trial.
Son Of Maher took his winning tally to six last season when he deadheated for first with Shadows Cast in the Coupland’s Mile (1600m) at Riccarton.
‘‘We gelded him late, as a 4yrold, and he’s really just hitting his straps now. This could be a big season for him.’’
The Al Maher 6yrold will contest both the Tarzino Trophy and Windsor Park Plate then attempt to win the Coupland’s Mile again.