Group winner in ‘good nick’; Newmarket target for Terravista; Victorian stud moves for 3YO.

Group winner in ‘good nick’

Australian Group Three winner Coup Ay Tee is making solid progress after a setback ended hopes of a start in last month’s Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile.

‘We took him and Darci Coup to the beach one day and unfortunately she kicked him,” co-trainer Michael Pitman said.

“He had an issue with his stifle and had to be boxed, but he’s bucking and squealing around the place now. He’s in good nick again.”

Coup Ay Tee is enjoying his second stint with the Pitman stable and after winning two of his first three New Zealand starts he joined Chris Waller’s team.

He won a further seven races, including the Gr.3 Hawkesbury Cup, before his return to Riccarton.

Newmarket target for Terravista

Captain Rio’s star sprinting son Terravista will be set for a first-up tilt at the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on March 14.

The five-year-old was sent for a spell after he accounted for Chautauqua and Lankan Rupee in the Gr.1 Darley Classic on the closing day of the Melbourne Cup carnival.

Trainer Joe Pride said Terravista would return to his stables toward the end of this month for a slow build-up to his Newmarket return next year.

Victorian stud moves for 3YO

Victorian thoroughbred operation Rosemont Stud has made another New Zealand purchase.

They recently secured the unbeaten Stephen Marsh-trained filly Sardaaj and they have now acquired an interest in the current Gr.1 TV3 New Zealand Derby co-favourite Volkstok’n’barrell.

The son of Tavistock won the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes in the spring and is set to resume at Ellerslie on Saturday in the Super Fence 3YO.

Volkstok’n’barrell’s Derby lead-up is likely to take in the Gr.2 Great Northern Guineas, the Listed Karaka Mile and the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas.