"It wasn't a hard run for him and we can back our horses up as good as most so we're not worried," Pitman said. "At this stage the mile is right at the end of his range, but he has been nice and settled in his trials and in his races.
"He's got a huge amount of speed and can run great sectionals."
Pitman tipped Kinagat as their top hope of claiming the Pegasus Stakes Handicap (1000m).
"He's our best chance and he should have won his last start, he was an absolute certainty beaten," he said. "He was going for a gap on the inside that closed and he went to the line under a hold."
Kinagat will be opposed by stablemates Enzo's Lad and Mr Typhon.
"Enzo's Lad has been aimed at this all the way through and he's got a great record at Riccarton over 1000m," Pitman said. "Mr Typhon is a fast horse as well and deserves his chance."
● Trevor and Martin Cruz's patience with Elusive Treasure is being rewarded.
The Cambridge-based brothers have produced the five-year-old to win his last two starts and the gelding will attempt to complete a hat-trick when he runs in today's Distinction Hamilton Hotel 1200m at Te Rapa.
"He's needed time, as a yearling he was 16.1 hands - he's massive and a lot of people were put off by his sheer size, but I liked him," Trevor Cruz said. "I think he's quite exciting this guy and he's versatile as far as tracks go."
- NZ Racing Desk
