Stackhouse to answer the Pitmans’ Trentham call

[Wandering Eyes]

Expat Kiwi jockey Daniel Stackhouse will once again answer the call of Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman to ride their team at Trentham next month.

The Melbourne-based hoop returned to New Zealand last month to ride Mystic Park (NZ) (Ocean Park) to victory in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) for the father-and-son team, and he will reunite with the six-year-old gelding in the Gr.2 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) on January 17.

“He came over to ride Mystic Park to win the TAB Mile and I have asked him to come over to ride him in the Thorndon and he said ‘yeah, no problem’,” Michael Pitman said.

“We will have a nice team in that day, probably three or four horses.”

Mystic Park, who was runner-up in the Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m) at Trentham earlier this month, will ready for the Thorndon Mile with a run in Sunday’s Craigmore Sustainable Holdings Timaru Cup (1600m) at Phar Lap Raceway, where he will be ridden by Brett Murray.

While pleased with his gelding heading into the race, Pitman is wary of his 62kg impost, which is three kilograms heavier than his closest rival – Group One performer Matscot.

“Weight could be an issue,” he said. “They are claiming on Matscot and Sir Albert, and he is carrying 62kg. But he has won carrying 60kg and he is a strong horse.”

Mystic Park’s wide draw also poses a concern for Pitman.

“Barrier 10 may not suit but he will be right there in the finish because he is very genuine,” he said. “The horse is really well, we are very happy with him.”

Mystic Park will likely be joined on his float trip north to Trentham next month by several of the barn’s other Timaru runners, including Rosso and Star Ballot, who will contest the Te Akau Racing (2200m).

Rosso has been in a purple patch of form since joining the Pitmans’ barn earlier this season, winning two of his four starts, and both he and Star Ballot are on a path towards the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) on January 31.

“Triston (Moodley, apprentice jockey) has been riding quite a lot of work for us, so we are claiming with him (on Rosso on Sunday),” Pitman said. “I am very happy with him, he should take a power of beating.

“He is on track for the Wellington Cup after this. Star Ballot will possibly go to Wellington as well and Daniel Stackhouse has won on him before.”

Last-start winner Moon Goddess will also likely head to Trentham following her run in Sunday’s NZB Mega Maiden Series (1200m).

“They had their first start since coming from Australia and they won very impressively the other day,” Pitman said.

She will be joined in her race by stablemate Dostee, who Pitman rates among his better chances of the day.

“I do like Dostee in the maiden 1200m,” he said. “He didn’t have much luck in his first start, but he is a nice horse and Triston Moodley rides him.”

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