First Serve
Race Images South
By all appearances the winning performance of burgeoning South Island sprint star First Serve on her home track on Saturday looked pretty much like a stroll in the park.
The classy Swiss Ace mare was having the first start in her four-year-old campaign and while co-trainer Michael Pitman expected a good showing he wasn't expecting to hear the phenomenal last sectional his charge recorded as she loped past her four rivals to score comfortably in her open class debut.
The winning time for Riccarton's New Zealand Bloodstock sponsored open 1000 metre sprint was a tidy 57.87 seconds however the final 600 metres was cut out in a sizzling 32.79, one of the fastest recorded in recent years.
"We were pleased with her heading into the race but thought she would take plenty of benefit from the run as she hadn't had a trial," Pitman explained. "She settled nicely and only really extended over the last couple of hundred metres which was how we wanted to see it all unfold. It wasn't until afterwards that I got told what the sectionals were and she did it from a couple of lengths off them so it was some run."
While Pitman was delighted with the performance he was also thrilled for the large group of owners who make up the Pearl Fillies syndicate who race the mare.
"Jim Bruford bought her for me at Karaka for $6,000 and we decided to syndicate her along with two other fillies, Queen Serene and Fade To Grey, to have a go at some of those Pearl Series bonus races," he said.
"We have around 20 people in the syndicate and they are spread from Auckland to Riverton. Each of the horses has won a race but this one looks like she could be extra special so it's a great thing for the owners and for racing."
Pitman, who prepares First Serve with son Matthew, has played a waiting game with the mare who is unbeaten at Riccarton in four starts and who has only tasted defeat once when beaten in Group Three company at Te Rapa last season behind New Zealand Champion three-year-old Xtravagant.
"She was very immature as a two-year-old so we had to keep backing off her," he said. "Once she started to strengthen up we had planned an early three-year-old run but she had a wee problem that set her back so she didn't start racing until March.
"I think she is going to be at her best as a five-year-old so missing that early racing will stand her in good stead as she gets to the top grade. Her female side is quite a slow maturing one that has plenty of form over a middle distance so while she is sprinting now I think later on she will get to at least a mile without any trouble."
Pitman will now set the mare for another home track effort in October before tackling the major sprint races during the New Zealand Cup Carnival in November. – NZ Racing Desk
The classy Swiss Ace mare was having the first start in her four-year-old campaign and while co-trainer Michael Pitman expected a good showing he wasn't expecting to hear the phenomenal last sectional his charge recorded as she loped past her four rivals to score comfortably in her open class debut.
The winning time for Riccarton's New Zealand Bloodstock sponsored open 1000 metre sprint was a tidy 57.87 seconds however the final 600 metres was cut out in a sizzling 32.79, one of the fastest recorded in recent years.
"We were pleased with her heading into the race but thought she would take plenty of benefit from the run as she hadn't had a trial," Pitman explained. "She settled nicely and only really extended over the last couple of hundred metres which was how we wanted to see it all unfold. It wasn't until afterwards that I got told what the sectionals were and she did it from a couple of lengths off them so it was some run."
While Pitman was delighted with the performance he was also thrilled for the large group of owners who make up the Pearl Fillies syndicate who race the mare.
"Jim Bruford bought her for me at Karaka for $6,000 and we decided to syndicate her along with two other fillies, Queen Serene and Fade To Grey, to have a go at some of those Pearl Series bonus races," he said.
"We have around 20 people in the syndicate and they are spread from Auckland to Riverton. Each of the horses has won a race but this one looks like she could be extra special so it's a great thing for the owners and for racing."
Pitman, who prepares First Serve with son Matthew, has played a waiting game with the mare who is unbeaten at Riccarton in four starts and who has only tasted defeat once when beaten in Group Three company at Te Rapa last season behind New Zealand Champion three-year-old Xtravagant.
"She was very immature as a two-year-old so we had to keep backing off her," he said. "Once she started to strengthen up we had planned an early three-year-old run but she had a wee problem that set her back so she didn't start racing until March.
"I think she is going to be at her best as a five-year-old so missing that early racing will stand her in good stead as she gets to the top grade. Her female side is quite a slow maturing one that has plenty of form over a middle distance so while she is sprinting now I think later on she will get to at least a mile without any trouble."
Pitman will now set the mare for another home track effort in October before tackling the major sprint races during the New Zealand Cup Carnival in November. – NZ Racing Desk