Michael Pitman's patience has been tested by Southern Sav, but he's on the verge of a double reward with the stayer.
The Riccarton horseman, who trains in partnership with his son Matthew, bagged the opening leg of a double when he produced the Savabeel gelding to take the major honoursin the Listed Gold Club Metropolitan Trophy on his home track yesterday.
"I've been waiting for two years for this horse to get to this level," Pitman said. "He's taken a long time to mature."
Southern Sav will back up next Saturday in the group three Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup and Pitman said the five-year-old was right at the top of his game for the two mile test.
"He's a very good horse and even through my rose coloured glasses that's as good a cup trial as you'll see."
While Southern Sav was a convincing winner, it wasn't achieved in the style that Pitman had expected after rider Darryl Bradley made an unexpected move down the back straight to go to the front.
"I can't tell you what I was thinking on the turn," Pitman said. "All I said to Darryl was that the horse is cherry ripe."
Southern Sav was clear into the straight and he held a strong gallop to beat Blood Brotha and Jimmy Mac with the well-supported Benzini fourth.
"I had to take the initiative and let Southern Sav get into a nice rhythm and he was really enjoying his work," Bradley said. "He was strong today, he's a smart type."
