Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman will head to Phar Lap Raceway with a strong team on Wednesday, including a trio who have some feature New Zealand Cup Week targets on the line.
Ocean Light (NZ) (Ocean Park) holds a nomination for the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) and will take his first step towards the two-mile feature in the Hospitality NZ – SC Branch 1600.
The five-year-old gelding will be fresh-up after a six-week break and his trainers are hoping he can continue his good run of form, having won three and placed in three of his last six starts.
“We were going to race him a couple of weeks ago but decided not to run him on a real heavy track first-up,” Michael Pitman said. “The track should be really nice at Timaru, it should come back to a (Good)4 or (Soft)5. We are really happy with him, he is coming up well.
“His main aim is Cup Week. He is nominated for the New Zealand Cup, but whether he gets to that race or the Metropolitan (Listed, 2600m), we will just see how he goes in his next two to three starts.”
He will be joined in his race by stablemate Epee Beel (Epaulette), who is on a path towards the Gr.3 Join TAB Racing Club Mile (1600m) on the middle day of New Zealand Cup Week.
“She got mucked up when they dropped the last two or three races at Ashburton (in July) and we pressed onto the Winter Cup (Gr.3, 1600m) and we probably shouldn’t have,” Pitman said. “Her last run (fifth over 1580m at Riccarton) was really good.
“This looks a nice race for her. She has got a bit of weight (59kg) to carry, but she has got it because she has won a couple of stakes races.
“At this stage she is heading to the mile (TAB Racing Club Mile). She will be better suited to that than the 1400m that’s for sure.”
Stablemate Star Ballot (NZ) (Tarzino) will also contest the mile on Wednesday, with the hope of also contesting the New Zealand Cup in November.
“He is a firm tracker,” Pitman said. “I think he went something like 15 starts without striking a firm track last prep, it’s very hard to find a firm track for him these days. Let’s hope we have a dry summer.”
The father-and-son team will head to Timaru with half-a-dozen other runners and they are particularly upbeat about the chances of stable newcomer Enchanted Delight (NZ) (Ferrando) in the Loveracing.nz 1200.
The four-year-old Ferrando mare previously had two starts for former trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, and she made her way south on the recommendation of breeder Graeme Rogerson, who has retained a share in the mare.
“We have got an interesting maiden that is having her first start for us called Enchanted Delight,” Pitman said.
“Graeme Rogerson has stayed in for a share. He recommended her to me and we have had plenty of horses off Rogie over the years.
“She is a nice mare, but whether 1200m might be a bit sharp for her or not. We haven’t trialled her, but her work has been good. Brett Murray rides her and we think she is a chance.”
Looking ahead to the weekend, the stable will have strong representation at their home meeting, including Proserve (NZ) (Proisir) in the Waimakariri Businesses North Canterbury Cup (2000m).
“We have got a super team in on Saturday,” Pitman said.
“Proserve is in the 2000m. He went well the other day and just got beaten. I thought he was going to win it at the top of the straight but he found one better.
“He holds a New Zealand Cup nomination and we might test him over 3000m in that Jericho Cup race.”
Pitman is also upbeat about the chances of stakes winner Mystic Park (NZ) (Ocean Park) and Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) hopeful Student Of War (So You Think), who will contest the three-year-old 1400m event.
“Mystic Park went huge the other day (when fourth over 1200m),” Pitman said. “He was left in front, no fault of Sam Weatherley’s, but he still fought on really well and he has improved since then.
“We have got to make a decision in the next couple of starts whether we go to the TAB Mile, which I am preferring to at the moment, or freshen him up for the Stewards (Listed, 1200m, which he won last year).
“We bought Student of War out of the Inglis Sale in Sydney after he had a couple of trials. He is a three-year-old by So You Think and he is nominated for the Guineas. He is a lovely horse.”
