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Michael and Matthew Pitman hold a strong hand in the main event on their home track program at Riccarton on Saturday with proven stakes performer Miss Tycoon Rose and the genuine My World to represent the stable.
Both runners appeal as leading contenders in the Listed Speight's Timaru Stakes (1400m) and with little to choose between the pair, apprentice Kavish Chowdhoory's decision to partner Miss Tycoon Rose may be a guide for punters.
"I gave Kavish the choice and he chose to ride Miss Tycoon Rose ," Michael Pitman said.
The daughter of Written Tycoon showed her quality last season when she came off a maiden victory to finish runner-up to Kahma Lass in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).
As a four-year-old, she has won two further races and finished fourth in the Gr.2 Coupland's Bakeries Mile (1600m) before she was tripped up by the going last time out in the Listed Timaru Cup (1600m).
"The track should dry out hopefully and come back to a Dead 4 on Saturday, but I was disappointed at Timaru and I did think she would handle the track," Pitman said.
"It was just incredibly heavy though and they had irrigated because everybody is worried this time of the year. Around the corners, all the jockeys were saying it was a Heavy 12, but she came through it well."
Safely through the weekend, the Gr.3 White Robe Lodge Stakes (1600m) is on Miss Written Tycoon's program before loftier North island targets might come into play.
"There is every chance that she will back up next Saturday at Dunedin in the weight-for-age mile, at this stage that's what we intend to do," Pitman said.
"There's also a chance she may go to Otaki or there's the fillies and mares' race at Te Aroha."
The Gr.1 El Cheapo Cars WFA Classic (1600m) on February 26 and the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa on April 16 are the future races in question.
Miss Tycoon Rose has proved to be a good money-spinner with earnings just shy of $120,000 after Pitman secured her for $40,000 out of Berkley Stud's draft at New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sale in 2019.
Meanwhile, apprentice Diego Montes De Oca will replace Chowdhoory on the mare's stablemate My World, who won the Reefton Cup (1400m) two runs back before the son of Jimmy Choux powered home for second in an open handicap at Wingatui.
"He was dead stiff not to win the other day and he's a lovely horse. He could back up next week as well, we'll just see how he comes through this," Pitman said.
"We've got a pretty handy team in on Saturday and Golden Harvest is a horse that I've always thought can win open class races and he'll be a good chance as well."
A five-year-old son of Ghibellines, Golden Harvest will be partnered by Chris Johnson in the Karaka 2022 7-12 Rating 74 (1200m).
He signalled a third career success was imminent when he finished resolutely for second at Wingatui a fortnight ago.
