Elfee will have to overcome an outside barrier in the Winter Cup today. Photo / Race Images
Trainer Matthew Pitman described Elfee's barrier draw of 22 for today's group three Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) as a "kick in the guts" but said the race is far from a lost cause.
Pitman, who trains at Riccarton in partnership with his father Michael, said it was now ace jockey Chris Johnson's job to ensure the wide draw wasn't terminal to seven-year-old Iffraaj mare Elfee's chances.
"Being drawn one from the outside isn't ideal but she's a versatile mare working as well as we could hope. We're confident with the horse and we've got the right man on board to overcome that draw," Pitman said.
Raced by Faye Torrance, Elfee has won eight of her 35 starts, most recently claiming the Oamaru Cup (1600m) to set up the prospect of her landing a $25,000 bonus for any horse that wins the Oamaru and Winter Cups double.
"Her work leading in to Oamaru was as good as it's ever been but she still showed a touch of class the way she won, which we've always known she had," Pitman said.
"We'd set the Winter Cup as her target and she's coming right at the right time.
"She ran second in a group three [South Island Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Riccarton] last season and she's always competed well at the top level.
"She's only once not earned a cheque for us and she's just getting better and better. She showed real brilliance last start."
TAB bookmakers have Elfee as an $8 fourth favourite for the Winter Cup behind Red Sierra at $5.50 and Dez and She's Poppy at $6.
"With the right run, she'll be right in it. Her form stacks up with the best of the South Island horses and she finished just behind Nashville at her last start at Riccarton," Pitman said. "She loves Riccarton and it's just that bad draw that's against us and that could yet play into our hands. There is some rain forecast and in past years, you get to the end of the day and the outside fence can be the place to be."
The Pitman stable will be out in force over Grand National week at Riccarton with Matthew Pitman suggesting that the stable was likely to end up with between 30 and 40 runners.
"We've got 13 on the first day and we'll probably have 10 on the middle day.
"We'll probably go close to a dozen each day," he said.
"In the past, we haven't had the numbers coming into National week like we do for Cup week but we've been building up a quality team and this is probably as big a team as we've had for a while."
Pitman said the stable had a good opinion of Highly Recommended four-year-old Jamie, who contests the Chanui Premier 1200 today, with Saronic Miss a worthy rival in the same race, while Sabre was one to watch next Wednesday.
• Jo Gordon is used to the jibes about her no-rush approach to training but the Southland conditioner could yet have the last laugh when she saddles up a nine-year-old and a 10-year-old in the Winter Cup.
Veteran gallopers Shakti and The Gordonian are primed to reward their trainer's patience.
"I put no pressure on my horses down home. I've got some nice young ones coming up for the new season and the guys are always giving me a hard time saying 'Jo, they aren't young ones - they are four now'," Gordon said.
"I always feel if you are patient and look after them, they'll keep going for you. The Gordonian raced as a two-year-old and he'll go around for us in the Winter Cup at 10."
Gordon was rapt with the leadup efforts of both her charges in last month's Oamaru Cup (1600m), The Gordonian sticking on well for fourth after leading, while Shakti finished on for an eye-catching sixth.
"I just wish their draws were the other way around," Gordon said after the front-running The Gordonian drew wide in 19 and Shakti drew barrier one.
"The Gordonian definitely races best going forward and if he'd drawn one he'd be heading towards the front but obviously we won't be doing that from 19. Shakti lately seems to struggle to keep up early so he'll drop out and hopefully be coming home hard at the end.
"The field is even and I think it will be the horse that gets the best run that will be winning it. Nashville probably is the one standout horse but at the weights, it could be anyone's race."
Gordon is leaning towards The Gordonian as the better of her two chances but is optimistic both will run well.
- NZ Racing Desk