Racing: Coup Bloomsbury does the honours for Pitman's Manawatu stable

Michael Pitman posted the first win from his new Manawatu stable when Coup Bloomsbury took out a three-year-olds' race at Trentham yesterday.

Pitman bought stabling at Awapuni in Palmerson North last August to compliment his Christchurch operation but until yesterday had not had a runner from the new quarters.

Coup Bloomsbury is one of 12 horses Pitman brought north for the Wellington Cup meeting and they have all been stabled at Awapuni since Thursday.

Pitman owns the new stables in partnership with Ray Coupland, who is the owner of Coup Bloomsbury, and has a number of horses with Pitman.

Coup Bloomsbury provided visiting Sydney jockey Chris Munce with a win at his first ride yesterday but Pitman wondered if his instructions to "ride him with patience" had been taken too literally.

Coup Bloomsbury settled three back on the inner in the seven-horse field for the $27,500 Capital On The Quay Handicap (1200m).

He still had a wall of horses around him inside the last 200m but he broke through and dashed home the last bit to score by a nose.

Said Pitman: "He made up some ground in the last 50m."

Pitman said the intention was to send the Centaine gelding back south for the $30,000 Gore Guineas (1360m) for three-year-olds at Gore, Southland, on February 3.

Another option was to remain north for the group three $45,000 Wellington Stakes (1600m) for three-year-olds at Trentham next Saturday.

- NZPA