Racing: Savvy Coup - This may get ugly

Savvy Coup needs a clear run so wide draw is no problem. Photo / Trish Dunell

One thing is for sure about Savvy Coup in today's group one Windsor Park Plate - she won't be winning pretty.

Michael and Matthew Pitman's group one New Zealand Oaks winner goes into the 1600m Hastings weight-for-age feature as a TAB $8.50 fourth favourite off the back of a fast-finishing fifth in the group one Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings three weeks ago.

Whether the Canterbury mare can turn the tables on Melody Belle and Hiflyer is yet to be seen but if she was to claim a famous South Island win, it won't be courtesy of a cute Chris Johnson ride.

The reason is two-fold. Firstly, she has drawn barrier 14 and while that means that she will be ridden cold from arguably the trickiest start point in New Zealand racing, Michael Pitman prefers that she is given space to unleash her potent sprint anyway. That means Savvy Coup will be making her play for victory spoils down the centre of the Hastings racetrack.

"I'm rapt with the draw. I'd far rather her there than one, two or three," Pitman said. "When she won her maiden at Riccarton, she was widest on the track and that's where I told Chris I wanted her to be. She's a far better horse when she's got clear air."

Pitman is dubious that Savvy Coup will be sharp enough to be winning the Windsor Park Plate and says the 2040m of the group one Livamol Classic (2040m) is when she'll be at her peak. And if she can win that, she'll earn herself a shot at denying Winx her fourth straight group one $A5 million Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley next month. If not, she'll be set for the group two $A300,000 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 10.

But to even be talking about races of that calibre, the Pitmans understand what calibre of horse they have in Savvy Coup.

"We're really happy with her. Before she went to Hastings, she was working well but Son Of Maher was always working better," Pitman said.

"But Matthew said as soon she got to Wellington, it was like a light switched in her and she was back in charge. She's always been like that. The deeper into the preparation she goes, the better."

The Pitmans used Trentham as a launching pad for all Savvy Coup's North Island raids last season and are following the same plan this year, though the Savabeel mare did return to Riccarton straight after the Tarzino.

"We've had good success operating out of Trentham, especially with her. There are good paddocks and boxes here and we had her at Trentham before she raced at Hastings, Awapuni and Ellerslie last season."

The Windsor Park Plate heads a compelling weekend of racing, with the return of Avantage a highlight in the group three Hawke's Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings, while Riccarton hosts the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) today and Pukekohe hosts the Listed Haunui Farm Karaka Classic (1600m) tomorrow.

Weekend racing also serves as the next phase for New Zealand's leading Melbourne Cup hopes, with Ladies First in action in the Fasttrack Insurance 2000 at Hastings and Zacada and Sir Charles Road tackling the group three Foundation Cup (2000m) at Caulfield.

Watch for ...
●Savvy Coup needs clear air in Windsor Park Plate.
●Avantage returns in Gold Trail Stakes.
●Leading NZ Melbourne Cup hopes continue buildup.

Aidan Rodley is a presenter on Trackside Television.