For the second time in three weekends, the Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained pair of Star Ballot and Tomyturbo have fought out a thrilling finish to a staying race at Riccarton – and for the second time in three weekends, Star Ballot has come out on top.
Saturday’s Hornby Club Founders Cup (2600m) was the rematch of a Rating 75 race over the same course and distance on April 20, where Star Ballot finished over the top of Tomyturbo to win by half a length.
The $40,000 Founders Cup followed a similar script, with Tomyturbo trucking into the race from midfield soon after the home turn while Star Ballot was hard on his heels.
This time they were joined by Sacred Dream to make it a three-way tussle through the last 200m, but again it was Star Ballot who was able to find the most through the closing stages of the race and snatched victory by a nose for jockey Lisa Allpress.
The five-year-old’s win was an impressive weight-carrying performance under 60kg, with Tomyturbo carrying 58kg and Sacred Dream 55.5kg. In their previous meeting, Star Ballot had 57kg and Tomyturbo carried 56.5kg.
“That was a massive effort under the 60kg,” Michael Pitman said. “After his last win, I expected the step up into an open handicap for this race would drop his weight down to about 54kg, but instead he went all the way up to 60. For him to still win the race was huge.
“The second horse ran a great race too, and he’ll get his turn. This was only his third run past 1600m. Kylie Williams said she ended up hitting the front a bit too soon and knew Star Ballot would come at him, so she was just trying to hold him together as much as she could. He didn’t lose anything in defeat today.”
Star Ballot was offered by breeders Westbury Stud at the 2020 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, where Pitman secured him for $45,000. The Tarzino gelding has now had 27 starts for six wins, six placings and $149,405 in stakes, and there might be even bigger and better things in store next season.
“I’m not sure about Tomyturbo, but Star Ballot will definitely go for a break now and then we’ll aim him at the New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) in the spring,” Pitman said. “I’ve already offered the ride to Lisa, and she seems keen to stick with him.
“I’ve made no secret about the fact that he’s my favourite horse in the stable, he’s just such a cool dude of a horse, and I think he’s a real genuine stayer.”
Pitman’s affection for Star Ballot may prompt him to turn his attention across the Tasman in early June.
“Westbury has a full-brother going through the yearling sale on the Gold Coast in a few weeks’ time, so I might have to see if I can put together a syndicate to buy him,” Pitman said.
The Founders Cup was the third win on the Riccarton card for the Pitmans, who won sprint races earlier in the afternoon with Motiontime and Zoulander.