Racing: Six of the best a record on one day for Riccarton horseman

Michael Pitman and his 6th winner for the day, Eleanor Coup. Photo / Otago Daily Times

Riccarton trainer Michael Pitman achieved a personal best six wins in a day at the Waikouaiti Racing Club meeting on Saturday.

"I have had five wins in a day a few times but I never thought I could win six," he said. "Who would have thought I would do it without Coup Align winning?"

He has won 41 races this season, one behind premiership leader Lisa Latta, who had two wins at Hastings on Saturday.

Pitman has been training for 31 years and saddled his first winner, Ben Ahee, at Hokitika in November 1979.

The stable was successful with Peyow Peyow (Waikouaiti Cup), Conscious Mistake, O'Canny, Trademark, Sub Prime and Eleanor Coup on Saturday.

Pitman started 25 horses in nine races on the 10-race card and also collected 12 minor placings.

He produced the first four home in the Waikouaiti Cup.

A family thread ran through the winners.

Peyow Peyow, who repeated his Waikouaiti Cup win of two years ago, is raced by Pitman's wife, Diane, and 22-year-old son, Matt.

Peyow Peyow was ridden by Brittany Moore, partner of Matt.

The win rewarded the faith of his owners. They exercised a $25,000 right of purchase on the horse at the end of the 2009 season when the lessor declined to renew the lease.

Conscious Mistake is raced by Pitman's brother John, of Christchurch.

Conscious Mistake strengthened the hand of Pitman for the southern Guineas races. He said he could have up to four runners in contention for the Gore, Dunedin and Southland Guineas.

The others are Milo, Miss Maximuss and Coup Tagonal. He is considering a start for his smart 3-year-old filly Aluminium Bikerack in the the weight-for-age Miss Scenicland Stakes (1645m) at Hokitika on January 12. She would carry 51kg.

Jamie Bullard, who rode Conscious Mistake on Saturday, has retained the mount.

Conscious Mistake won a race for 2-year-olds at Ashburton in March and he has won twice in four starts.

One of the few progeny of Fastnet Rock in New Zealand, he is the first foal of Sutology, who won the Matriach Stakes at Flemington.

Conscious Mistake was bred by John Pitman, who also raced Sutology, who is in foal to High Chaparral. She is also the dam of a yearling colt by Holy Roman Emperor and has a filly foal by Henry The Navigator.

Michael Pitman races Sub Prime on lease and he is also in the ownership of O'Canny.

Coup Align, a hot favourite in the open 1250m, was cut back to fourth after leading under 61kg. O'Cartier won comfortably.

"The dead track tripped him," Lisa Allpress, the rider of Coup Align, said.

Pitman was not disappointed.

"He couldn't beat O'Cartier, giving him 6kg," he said. "He will carry on to the Telegraph where he drops to 56kg."

Pitman will not be resting on his laurels, saying he has an even stronger team at the Central Otago meeting at Omakau today.

"It is a big call but I think myteam at Oamakau is stronger," hesaid.

The team includes O'Canny, a winner at Waikouaiti; Milo, Winen'soda and Typhoon Warning, winners at Kurow on Thursday; and Raewyn Coup, a last-start winner at Cromwell.

Pitman is expecting improvement from Draconic, who was beaten a neck at Kurow. Draconic had a setback leading up to that race.

He rates Milo highly and is keen to race him before the Gore Guineas.

Chase The Sun and Coup Callum finished close up in the Waikouaiti Cup and along with Fellini give the stable a strong handicap in the featured Clare Memorial Cup.

Their task will be easier with the announcement that Inferno, winner of the Kurow Cup, will not start.

"She will have a short spell and be prepared for the White Robe Lodge Handicap," co-trainer Shane Anderton said.