Racing: Coup Ray bidding for Omakau double

Coup Ray has been placed in three of his five starts this season. Picture / Derek Flynn

Coup Ray will have the services of top jockey Chris Johnson when attempting to repeat his win of last year in the open sprint at the Central Otago Racing Club at Omakau today.

Coup Ray, trained by Michael Pitman, won the 1400m race last year in the hands of stable apprentice Laura Parker. He carried 53kg after a 3kg apprentice claim.

The seven-year-old today has 58kg.

The winner of 10 races and $303,150 in stakes, Coup Ray hinted at a return to winning form when third to Sand Sweeper and Tee Cee in the Kurow Cup (1400m) last Friday.

He has been placed in three of his five starts this season.

Among his rivals today is Portofino Bay, who ran Coup Ray to three-quarters of a length last year. Portofino Bay was fifth at Kurow last Friday.

Pitman also has Classic Tycoon and Coup Timaru in the seven-horse field.

Coup Timaru finished second to Coup Bloomsbury over 1400m at Kurow. He is the mount of stable apprentice Elin Whittle, who has twice ridden a treble of wins in the past week.

Live By The Sword, Likes To Rule and Megabite are other winners from the 2005 Central Otago meeting competing today.

Live By The Sword is attempting to repeat his win in the Clare Memorial Cup. Likes To Rule, who won an intermediate 2000m at Omakau last January, is also in the Cup.

She mastered a slow track to win the listed Living Space Stakes (2070m) at Wingatui on December 26.

Megabite won over 1100m at Omakau last January, beating Ticklish.

Megabite, trained at Methven by Pam Gerard, won over 1200m at Rangiora on December 23 at her last start. Her assignment today is a rating 92 1100m race.

- NZPA