Race Images South
While Riccarton trainer Michael Pitman has arrived safely in Melbourne to watch Savvy Coup contest Saturday’s Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m), his son and training partner Matthew will be unable to attend.
Michael has recently undergone surgery and was cleared to fly to Melbourne on Thursday, but Matthew will stay home in New Zealand to support his pregnant partner Patricia after she developed complications on Thursday.
“Unfortunately, they went for a blood test yesterday (Thursday) before they came to pick me up from hospital and it meant that Patricia had to go into hospital last night,” Michael Pitman said.
“They may even be forcing induced labour either today or tomorrow, so Matthew has had to stay at home.”
Pitman said he is pleased with how Savvy Coup has been working in Melbourne and said his runner is likely to track glamour mare Winx throughout the Moonee Valley feature.
“I just hope that the connections of the horses that think they are a chance to beat Winx really do try hard, because they might beat each other up, that would be perfect,” he said.
“I think we are a chance to run top four and we will probably end up following Winx.”