Pitman team poised to shine ahead of Cup week

Michael and Matthew Pitman are marshalling their troops for New Zealand Cup week and a number of them will have opportunities to further their carnival hopes at Riccarton this weekend.

Among them are the well-performed stayers Rosso, Star Ballot and Canheroc, while Third Decree is also warming up for the defence of a festival feature.

Rosso will be in action in Saturday’s Listed Pavilion Now Open Spring Classic (2000m), a distance short of his target event, but he is still expected to give another strong account of himself.

Last season’s Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) winner was third when resuming on the course over 1600m two starts back before finishing runner-up over a middle distance at Timaru.

“They were both very good runs, and he was a little bit unlucky not to have won the other day, but it was a good result all the same,” Michael Pitman said.

The Irish-bred Rosso is currently the $5 second favourite for the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m), and is primed for a bold showing over 2000m.

“He did run third first-up over a mile and he’s not a slow, plodding stayer,” Pitman said.

“He’s got a natural turn of foot, as he’s showed when he’s won, so I think he’s an each-way chance.

“His main target is the New Zealand Cup, it has been all the way through, and he’ll run in this one and then in the Metropolitan (Listed, 2580m).”

Connections also have hopes of tackling a distance feature further afield in the autumn.

“The long-range target is the Sydney Cup (Gr.1, 3200m), we’re hoping to get him over there,” Pitman said.

Star Ballot was placed off a break in the Ashburton Cup (1600m), and recent Canterbury Cup (2000m) third Ocean Light will add to the stable assault on the Spring Classic.

“Star Ballot is my favourite, he’s a very genuine racehorse and was massive first-up and will possibly improve. He holds a Cup nomination as well,” Pitman said.

“He’ll follow the traditional path as well, into the staying event on the first day and Ocean Light should have won his last start.

“He was in front a long way from home after having a reasonably tough run early in the race and just got run down. Hopefully, he gets a sweeter run this weekend and will be a chance at longer odds.”

Another Cup contender for the team is proven stayer Canheroc, who will take aim at Saturday’s NZB Airfreight Road To Jericho (3000m).

“I think he will go close to winning, he’s very well in himself and has run third in the last two New Zealand Cups, so 3000m will suit him,” Pitman said.

“He’s probably our best chance on the day, and he’ll also follow the traditional path to the Cup.”

Mystic Park was an impressive last-start course and distance winner and will step out in the TAB Mile Prelude (1400m) ahead of the defence of his Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) title.

“He was fantastic and enjoyed the drier track conditions, he’s got a marvellous record at Riccarton (seven wins) and he’s got the weight (60kg) to carry, but he’s earned it,” Pitman said.

Third Decree will also take her place in the Prelude off the back of a sound resuming fifth at Ashburton.

“She went a nice race first-up and will go from here to the fillies and mares’ race on the first day (Gr.3 Windsor Park Stud Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes, 1400m),” Pitman said.

“The biggest plus for her on Saturday is that she’s down to a weight (55.5kg) that she can be competitive at.”