Riccarton trainer Michael Pitman is hoping Zoulander has done enough to qualify for a lucrative polytrack target during Riccarton’s Grand National Festival of Racing in August following his win at the synthetic track on Wednesday.
Following the abandonment of racing at Phar Lap Raceway on Sunday, a six-race meeting was scheduled for Riccarton’s synthetic track on Wednesday, much to the delight of Pitman, who trains in partnership with his son Matthew.
They were pleased to give their now seven-win gelding another test on the polytrack and he didn’t disappoint, taking out the Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge Open Handicap (1200m) by a neck over Caravella.
“He won nicely and he is not a front-runner. It was an outstanding ride by Kylie (Williams), she just used her initiative, there was no pace on, and went to the front,” Michael Pitman said.
“We are trying to get him ready for the $100,000 1200m polytrack race on the middle day of the Grand National Carnival.
“With transferring of the race today, it just gave another opportunity to qualify, which I am appreciative of. He has probably done enough to gain a start now.”
Initially in the care of Hamilton trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, Pitman said he has been a delight to train since joining his barn two years ago.
“He is just a genuine racehorse,” he said. “From the first day we had him I have said to a lot of people that he reminds us so much of El Chico. He has now won seven races, he is very honest and has done a good job.
“When I bought him, Graeme Rogerson stayed in for a share, and he was of the opinion that if we could get him right, he would win races.”
A race prior, the stable picked up a placing courtesy of Ceddy Smith in the Book A Suite Mid-Winter Xmas 22 June Rating 60 (1400m).
“Ceddy Smith went well,” Pitman said. “He is not an easy horse to ride, and he (Abdul Najib) rode him well. He will keep on improving and will win one shortly.”
Pitman will return to the synthetic track on Thursday to line-up a handful of runners, including Motiontime and Blanche in the Riccarton Park Function Centre Three-Year-Old (1400m).
“We can win the first (race),” he said. “There are only five in it and both of our fillies, Motiontime and Blanche, are in-form.
“Blanche will possibly end up in front and Motiontime can hopefully get a nice trail. Motiontime is a better horse ridden quietly, the other day she ended up in front and it wasn’t ideal.”
Meanwhile, Pitman is looking forward to a rare weekend off and is excited to watch his grandson play rugby league on Saturday.
“I am looking forward to seeing my grandson Benji play on Saturday,” he said. “Last year Matthew got coach of the year for the Hornby Panthers in his first year of coaching. I am pleased for Matthew, he is enjoying it with his son.”