3yo colt Sensei takes on older horses in G1 Telegraph
Michael Pitman, who trains the colt with his son Matthew, has confirmed a start in the Group 1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m).
“Danielle Johnson will be riding him,” he said. “He’s bounced through his run the other day very well and we wouldn’t be backing him up unless we thought he was a serious winning chance.”
Sensei was caught wide and over-raced when eighth in Saturday’s Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m).
“The plan was to have been four or five back on the fence and get smothered up, but never mind,” Pitman said. “I think he’s a 1200 or 1400m horse.”
Stablemate Savvy Coup was a bold third in the Levin Classic and a decision on her immediate future will be made in the next couple of days.
“She’ll either back up in the Desert Gold Stakes or go on to Ellerslie for the Karaka 3YO Classic,” Pitman said. “She’s tough and she does back up well.”
Pinup Coup, who finished third in Rating 65 company at the weekend, is a definite contender for this Saturday’s Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m).
Meanwhile, the Riccarton stable will chase a sentimental victory with Dynamic in Tuesday’s Evelyn Carran Memorial Reefton Cup (1400m).
“We’d love to win the race. Evelyn was a very good owner of ours and raced El Chico and Southern Sav as well as a host of other horses,” Pitman said.
Dynamic is in good form and most recently he was runner-up at Omakau.
“It was a good run and he’s improved with the race,” Pitman said. “He’s drawn one and there should be plenty of pace early so he’ll get a good run.”