Pitman team firing on all cylinders
The father and son training partnership of Michael and Matthew Pitman continued their red-hot run of late with a winning treble at Kurow on Saturday.
Consistent performer Nowhere Man added to his impeccable formline with victory in the second race on the day’s card while Queen Serene made up for some bad luck at her most recent start to secure her fourth career success later in the day.
However, it was the lightlyraced Pinup Coup who really caught the eye as she stormed home to secure her maiden success and set herself up for a possible Group One challenge later in the season.
A $34,000 Select Sale purchase for Pitman from the Mapperley Stud draft at the 2016 Karaka Yearling Sales, Pinup Coup had hinted she was ready to win despite finishing near the rear at her last start. ‘‘Chris Johnson rode her at Dunedin last time and, even though she ran near last, he got off and said she had ability and was ready to win soon,’’ said Michael Pitman.
‘‘Unfortunately, he was committed to another ride on Saturday, so he missed out, but he was pretty right in his assessment of her.
‘‘We have always had time for her, but she has needed to strengthen up a little. Now she has got some experience under her belt I expect she can go on with it.’’
Pitman hasn’t made any concrete plans for the filly’s next assignment although a trip to Trentham is a possibility.
‘‘There isn’t much around for her in the South Island, so I am tempted to take her up to Wellington for a trip away,’’ he said.
‘‘We have put in a New Zealand Oaks nomination for her so if she was to do enough to justify a start in a Group One feature like that then having a look around Trentham won’t do her any harm.’’
Saturday’s winning treble has taken the Pitman team to third on the National Trainer’s Premiership ladder with the pair looking to a big team at Waikouaiti on Monday to add to their current tally of 33 wins for the season.
‘‘We’ve got seventeen entered for Monday but not all of them will run,’’ said Pitman. ‘‘We also have a few in at Omakau on Wednesday so the weather will play a big part in where they all go. If we get the rain that is predicted, then I would expect to see more at Omakau than at Waikouaiti.’’
Pitman nominated last start Timaru winner Gloss as one of his best chances at Waikouaiti with the four-year-old Coats Choice mare set to contest the sixth race on the day’s programme.
● Meanwhile Batman lives to fight another day following his heroics on Saturday.
The eight-year-old earned himself a reprieve when he returned to winning ways to get the better of Johnny Jones and triumph in the PGG Wrightson Kurow Cup (1400m).
‘‘I thought he may have done his dash,’’ Riccarton trainer Neill Ridley said. ‘‘We’ll carry on a bit longer with him now.
Batman settled in fourth spot and the stakes-winning son of Falkirk finished determinedly in the straight to give stable apprentice Hayley Bennet the 14th and most important win of her career.
Batman is part-owned by Waverley horseman Sam Lennox, who formerly trained the gelding to win two races and a number of encouraging performances in strong age group company.
He placed in both the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1500m) and the Listed Wanganui Guineas
(1340m) and ran sixth in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m).
He has proved to be a good money-spinner in the south with a further six wins including a Listed success in the Mosgiel Stakes
(1200m) and a third placing in the
Gr.3 Stewards Stakes (1200m).