Pitmans land big double
Savvy Coup continued the southern sparkle at Hastings on Thursday when she trumped a smart field of fillies in an impressive dress rehearsal for an upcoming classic challenge.
The Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained daughter of Savabeel followed the earlier winning lead of stablemate Montoya Star when she cruised to victory in the Gr.3 Little Avondale Stud Lowland Stakes (2100m).
‘‘Savvy Coup’s a filly that’s always showed a lot of ability and it wasn’t until New Zealand Cup week at Riccarton that the penny dropped with her and everybody knows she won twice there stylishly,’’ Michael Pitman said who trains at Riccarton with father Matthew.
She subsequently headed north to win the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes
(1600m) and finished third in both the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) and the Karaka Million 3YO Classic
(1600m) at Ellerslie. ‘‘She came through that last race really well and put on a bit of weight, which isn’t a bad thing going toward the Oaks,’’ Pitman said.
Savvy Coup’s performance at Hawke’s Bay has seen her odds for the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) cut from $7 to $3.50 favouritism.
The three-year-old settled toward the back of the field in the Lowland and when rider Chris Johnson asked her to lengthen stride in the straight she cut loose to account for Milseain and Caricature with Swing Note a sound fourth after racing three wide.
‘‘We were always confident she would improve with the step up in trip,’’ Matthew Pitman said. ‘‘She took a while to relax and she did eventually for Chris. There’s a lot of Oaks winners come out of this race so that’s encouraging going forward.’’
Meanwhile Montoya Star will head to a Group Three feature later this month at the top of her game. The High Chaparral mare was successful with a narrow defeat of her stablemate Son Of Maher in the Karaka Million Nominations Close 6 March 1400m.
‘‘That’s a great result, really good,’’ said Michael Pitman. ‘‘She’s going to the Cuddle Stakes at Trentham next, that’s what she’s up here for.’’
Montoya Star has now won eight races and her last-start fourth behind Thee Auld Floozie, Lizzie L’Amour and Coldplay in the Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) was a strong pointer to her chances at Hawke’s Bay.
‘‘She was super at Auckland, she was beaten by probably the best three mares currently racing in the country,’’ Pitman said.
Montoya Star settled just off the pace on the rail and when clear she powered home under jockey Michael McNab to collar Son Of Maher, who was partnered by Sam Weatherley. ‘‘It was a really good ride, three back on the fence is the place to be on her, and it was an equally good ride on the second horse as well,’’ Pitman said.