Savvy Coup to return across the Tasman
Michael and Matthew Pitman are already making plans for a return to Australia with Savvy Coup.
The Riccarton trainers have enjoyed a lucrative campaign with the daughter of Savabeel, who won the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham before finishing fifth in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick.
“She came through the trip first-class and she’s having a deserved break now,” Michael Pitman said.
“We’ll have her back for the Group 1 races at Hawke’s Bay and then we’ll be looking to take her to Melbourne early in the spring. Son Of Maher will go and possibly Czechoslovakia and a couple of others.”
Son Of Maher dead-heated for first in the Group 2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) in the spring and subsequently added Listed placings in the Timaru Stakes (1400m) and the Lightning Handicap (1200m).
The promising Czechoslovakia has won once from five outings and ran third in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) before he finished fourth in the Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1400m). Meanwhile, the stable rate Jazzman (Speights 1000m) and Coup Dreamworld (Kam Transport Maiden 1950m) as two of their best chances at Marlborough on Friday.
The former will be ridden by southern newcomer Jordan Bassett, who can claim four kilos.
“She’s from Hastings and Noel Harris recommended that she came down here to us with a view to possibly signing on,” Pitman said.
“Coup Dreamworld hasn’t had much luck and he’ll go well if he can overcome a wide draw.”
To be ridden by Chris Johnson, the colt finished strongly for a last-start second at Timaru.