Savvy Coup primed for Matriarch
Mare tipped to run well at Flemington despite ‘losing the plot’ in the Cox Plate
The occasion surrounding the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) with glamour mare Winx got too much for Kiwi galloper Savvy Coup according to her connections, but they believe she is primed to contest her major Melbourne target tomorrow, the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
The Kiwi mare pulled hard throughout the Moonee Valley feature a fortnight ago and Michael Pitman, who trains her in partnership with son Matthew, was happy enough with the run despite the circumstances.
“She just lost the plot [in the Cox Plate],” he said. “She was quiet and very settled out the back, but as soon as she got into the parade ring, she just lost it. She pulled hard in the prelim, she got bumped a couple of times by Winx and she just overraced and ran herself into the ground really.
“She normally just settles out the back and relaxes up. She gets keen, but Michael McNab and Chris Johnson have ridden her most of the time and they have never said it has been an issue, but the other day she just got right up on the steel behind the pace and I thought it was an outstanding run to finish as close as she did.”
Pitman is happy with the way his 4-year-old mare has pulled up after the Cox Plate and said she has been working well heading into tomorrow’s contest.
“We think she has improved since the Cox Plate, which was always going to be the case because I’ve quite openly stated that the Cox Plate wasn’t her grand finale, it just happened that it was a suitable race to use to lead into the Matriarch,” Pitman said.
“She worked really good on Tuesday and she’s come through the race really well.”
Savvy Coup has drawn the outside barrier in the 15-horse field, but that poses no concern for Pitman who is confident with the mare, who is a $7.50 equal second-favourite for the race with TAB bookmakers.
“I’d rather draw there than the inside because Flemington has had plenty of racing on it and the fence might be a bit off I would imagine. It has had three days of racing on it already this week,” Pitman said. “She has drawn wide plenty of times, she drew wide in the Oaks and the Livamol and Chris [Johnson, jockey] will work it out.
“I’ve been in Australia enough times, I’ve won 20-odd races there, to know that if you’re in the market, you’re a chance. She was a 60-1 shot in the Cox Plate and ran accordingly, but this week she is second favourite in the Matriarch.”
Although Pitman, who is battling bowel cancer, was able to make it to Melbourne for the Cox Plate, he won’t be at Flemington tomorrow as he is in hospital after complications relating to his illness.
“I’m currently in hospital and I’m going to be here possibly for another week,” he said. “I’ve got a problem with what they call a collection area in the pelvis, which is getting treated twice a day with antibiotics.”
His stay in hospital will also mean that he will be unable to attend races on his home track of Riccarton tomorrow, where his stable will line up 20 runners, including three in the Listed Yesberg Insurance Services Pegasus Stakes Handicap (1000m).
The Pitman stable holds a strong hand in the race with last-start winner Morse Code and stakes-placed gelding Mr Typhoon, but Pitman has labelled 4-year-old entire Sensei as his best chance.
“If it was a dry track I would expect Sensei to win it,” he said. “He’s been aimed at this race this prep and he’ll probably only have one run between Saturday and the Telegraph.
“But if it comes up wet or the track is over irrigated like it was last start, he’ll probably struggle.”
— NZ Racing Desk