Racing: Old firm back in business

Shelby will again be a rival today, with 0.5kg less than he carried On New Year's Day. Photo / Otago Daily Times

The "old firm" of Riccarton trainer Michael Pitman and Cambridge jockey David Walsh are back in business at Kumara today.

Walsh has not ridden for Pitman since last spring.

The combination had fine success last season, with Eel Win (White Robe Lodge Handicap) and Coup Align (Gore Guineas), after winning a string of races on the South Island holiday circuit two years ago.

That string of wins culminated in Pitman giving Walsh his 2000th-career winner.

Lisa Allpress became associated with Coup Align in the Pegasus Handicap after Walsh decided not to ride on the first day of the NZ Cup Meeting in November.

Pitman is loath to change a winning rider and Allpress has continued an unbeaten record on Coup Align in the Stewards' Handicap and the open sprint at Waikouaiti on New Year's Day.

The $1 million Telegraph Handicap at Trentham on January 23 is now the target for the pair.

Pitman has 25 horses entered for Kumara and he was able to offer Walsh a good book of rides.

"With a big team, I have two good jockeys in David and Jamie Bullard and the apprentices," Pitman said.

Walsh is back in the saddle on Peyow Peyow in the feature race, the Kumara Nuggets.

"I was disappointed how he [Peyow Peyow] was ridden in the Waikouaiti Cup - back on the inner.

"He needs to be out in the open," Pitman said.

Peyow Peyow has not been successful since he won the 2009 Waikouaiti Cup.

Walsh has ridden the Hunza Court gelding to three wins, including the 2008 Amberley Cup at Riccarton.

Peyow Peyow won a maiden race at Kumara in 2007, so is no stranger to the course.

Stablemate Coup Callum, the topweight in the Kumara Nuggets with 57kg, is the mount of Bullard who has won the race before on Quantum Dude (2009), Al Farouk (2007) and Narousa (2002).

Coup Callum ran Shelby to three-quarters of a length in the Waikouaiti Cup.

Shelby will again be a rival today, with 0.5kg less than he carried On New Year's Day.

Al Farouk and Borninthestates both won the Waikouaiti Cup-Kumara Nuggets double.

Pitman was on the road back to Greymouth from Waikouaiti on Thursday, with nine horses. He had travelled from his Christchurch stable to Reefton on Wednesday and dropped off horses at Greymouth. He won with Safari Prince and Zenagen at the Reefton meeting, then drove to his holiday base at Waikouaiti, arriving at 2.30am on Thursday.