Race Images South
Three-year-old Swiss Ace filly Tee Cee Coup will be set to compete in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui next month after taking out the Punters Challenge 6 April – Enter Now Three-Year-Old (1200m) at Riccarton on Thursday.
However, punters were left to catch their breath on Thursday after the Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained runner only just managed to get up after being sent out a $1.60 favourite.
Tee Cee Coup looked beaten down the home straight when headed by stablemate Alonzo, but managed to call on all her reserves to get up by a short-head over Devious, with a half-head back to Alonzo in third.
“She’s a lovely filly,” Michael Pitman said. “I thought she would lead and win easily, but she just missed the kick. But that’s actually a positive, that she can be ridden off the pace.
“She’s as green as a billiard table and was never going to win the race, but she has got that competitive spirit.
“She’s a lovely filly, we think a lot of her.”
Tee Cee Coup will now be set for her first tilt at black-type level at Wingatui next month before possibly heading towards the Gr.3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton.
“She’s going to head to Dunedin, that was always going to be her next start. We will see how we go there,” Pitman said.
“There’s a fillies and mares Group Three here, where a three-year-old filly would get in with a real luxury weight, with the allowance.
“There’s a long time between Dunedin and the next fillies race here at Riccarton, so we will just see.”