Talented mare First Serve continued on her winning way when she simply smashed her rivals in Saturday’s Half The Asset sponsored open 1200 metre contest at Ashburton.
Sent out a warm favourite by the punters, the Michael and Matthew Pitman trained mare gave her rivals a galloping lesson as she extended powerfully in the home straight to cruise home by three quarters of a length and record her fifth career victory. Such was the contempt that she showed for her rivals, rider Samantha Wynne had the luxury of riding the mare hands and heels over the last 300 metres of the contest.
“I was very confident she would win as she had improved since her first-up run and had the conditions well in her favour,” noted Michael Pitman.“It was only her sixth lifetime start so I’m also confident there is plenty of improvement left in her. She really only does what she has to which is why Sam gave her one flick with the whip when she went up to challenge just to keep her mind on the job.”
Pitman was also happy enough with the unplaced runs of the stable’s other two representatives in the event with neither Kinagat nor El Chico appreciating the give in the Ashburton surface that saw the track rated a Dead 5 for the day.“Kinagat needs a good track to show his best so I’m prepared to forgive him for that one,” he said.
“It was a typical second-up sort of performance but we know on a firm track he is far better than what he showed on Saturday.“El Chico also did what we expected as he needed the race and will strip fitter next time.”
First Serve and Kinagat will clash again twice next month when they contest the Yesberg Insurance Services Pegasus Stakes (1000m) on the first day of the New Zealand Cup Carnival at Riccarton on 5 November, followed by the Gr. 3 Lindauer Stewards Stakes (1200m) four days later.
