Rosso to enjoy well-earned spell
Rosso (Camelot) will head for a deserved break following the market elect’s failure to handle track conditions at Ellerslie in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m).
The imported stayer enjoyed a smooth passage on the fence under expatriate Kiwi jockey Michael Dee before drifting out of contention in the straight to finish second last.
That disappointing outcome aside, the imported son of Camelot has made impressive strides during his first New Zealand campaign.
“He couldn’t win a midweeker in Melbourne and has gone from there to being favourite for the Wellington and Auckland Cups, so he’s come a very long way in a short time,” said Michael Pitman, who trains the gelding with son Matthew.
“He just didn’t handle the track at all. We couldn’t have wished for a better run, but Mick said when he let him down, he chopped and changed legs about three times.
“The track was just too hard for him, so he’ll go out for six weeks now.”
Rosso started his career in his native Ireland where he was a winner from five outings before a four-start Victorian stint with Anthony and Sam Freedman.
The five-year-old was subsequently offered on the Inglis Digital sale platform and was purchased by Pitman’s brother John for A$47,500 to race under his South Island Racing Enthusiasts banner.
He was successful first-up over 2200m at Ashburton last spring and quickly added wins at Riccarton and in the Gr.3 Trentham Stakes (2100m) before finishing fourth in the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m).
With Rosso paddock-bound, Pitman has turned his attention to Thursday’s Ashburton meeting where talented mare Third Decree (NZ) (War Decree) is rated far and away the stable’s best chance of success.
The daughter of War Decree will bid to take her winning tally into double figures when she runs in the Agraforum Growing Innovation Handicap (1200m).
She will be ridden for the first time by the country’s leading apprentice Amber Riddell, whose claim reduces the mare import to 59kg.
“She’s got a great record at Ashburton, she could have done with a better draw, but we’ve got to take what we’ve got and still think she’ll go awfully close to winning,” Pitman said.
Third Decree has raced six times on the track for three victories, two over the distance, and has yet to finish out of the top four.
“We’re getting her ready for the fillies and mares’ race (Gr.3 Donaldson Brown South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes, 1600m) at Riccarton on March 21,” Pitman said.
“It’s a set weight and penalty race worth $100,000 and because she hasn’t won a stakes race, she’ll get in on the minimum.
“It’s an ideal race for her and after that we’ll either go to Riverton or have a crack at the Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) that she won last year, that’s worth $350,000.”
