The occasion surrounding the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) with glamour mare Winx got too much for Kiwi galloper Savvy Coup according to her connections, but they believe she is primed to contest her major Melbourne target tomorrow, the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
The Kiwi mare pulled hard throughout the Moonee Valley feature a fortnight ago and Michael Pitman, who trains the mare in partnership with his son Matthew, was happy enough with the run despite the circumstances.
"She just lost the plot [in the Cox Plate]," he said. "She was quiet and very settled out the back, but as soon as she got into the parade ring she just lost it. She pulled hard in the prelim, she got bumped a couple of times by Winx and she just over-raced and ran herself into the ground really.
"We think she has improved since the Cox Plate, which was always going to be the case because I've quite openly stated that the Cox Plate wasn't her grand finale, it just happened that it was a suitable race to use to lead into the Matriarch," Pitman said. "She worked really good on Tuesday and she's come through the race really well."
Savvy Coup has drawn the outside barrier in the 15 horse field, but that poses no concern for Pitman who is confident with the mare who is a $7.50 equal second-favourite for the race with TAB bookmakers.
"I'd rather draw there than the inside because Flemington has had plenty of racing on it and the fence might be a bit off I would imagine. It has had three days of racing on it already this week," Pitman said.
