Pitmans prospecting gold in Kumara
Joshua Smith • January 9th, 2026 2:15 PM • 4 min read
Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman are prospecting gold in Kumara this weekend.
The father-and-son duo are targeting Saturday’s Vernon & Vazey 0800 Truck Parts Kumara Gold Nuggets (1810m) with Ocean Light and Charbano, and they are hoping they can get their hands on the spoils.
The West Coast feature has been in the crosshairs for the Christchurch horsemen with Ocean Light and they are pleased with him heading into the race despite his last start unplaced run in the Kurow Cup (1400m).
It was the five-year-old gelding’s first unplaced run in 10 months, but Matthew Pitman said he wasn’t suited by the distance and they expect him to bounce back over a much more suitable trip on Saturday.
“The Kurow Cup was a touch short of his best,” Pitman said. “He went there with a view to bring him along for the Nuggets, which is a race that we have targeted with him since his good run during (NZ) Cup Week (when runner-up behind race rival Sunset Boulevard over 2000m).
“He meets Sunset Boulevard better off in the weights than he did Cup Week, so he is a really live chance. Hopefully he can go close and then onto bigger targets after that.
“He still holds a nomination for the Wellington Cup (Gr.3, 3200m). I think it would be a bridge too far for him, but we are lucky down here now, we have got the Southern Stayers’ Series with races like the Dunedin Cup (Listed, 2400m) and a few of those country cups races down south look ideal for him.
“He might venture north later in the season, but we will just take it race-by-race with him. We have to spread his races out, he has the odd foot issue, but he is really well at the moment and we think he can go close on Saturday.”
The stable will also be represented in the race by Charbano, who placed in the Kumara Gold Nuggets two years ago.
“He went well in the Nuggets when he finished third and Kumara is a track that really suits him,” Pitman said.
“The weather forecast is for a bit of rain and as long as it doesn’t get too heavy I think he will love the track again. We are happy with the horse and hopefully he can give a good account of himself again.”
Earlier in the day, the stable will also have a two-pronged attack in the Phoenix Minerals (1150m) courtesy of Express Coup and last-start winner Motiontime.
“Express Coup loves a heavy track and she loves Kumara as well,” Pitman said. “We are really happy with the horse and her work has been good. I think she is well placed on Saturday.
“We gave Motiontime a bit of time off and she has come in really well. We thought she might improve off the run last Sunday but she got up and won anyway. She has been over here for the week on the (West) Coast and she seems to be thriving.
“Whether she can take the weight penalty and go on with it we will find out. We are really happy with the horse and I think she has improved since last Sunday’s run.”
Pitman is also upbeat about the stable’s chance in the McMullan ITM (1150m) where they will line-up five runners, including promising three-year-old El Vaquero.
“El Vaquero is a horse with nice quality and we have always had an opinion of,” Pitman said.
“We tried to stretch him out to the mile for the Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m) and it just didn’t work out. He has had a freshen-up now and back to the sprint trips. We think he can be competitive.”
Pitman will also be represented in the race by Russian Rosette, Jetstream, I'm Feeling Lucky and Grove Street.
“It is a race we have a nice hand in,” Pitman said. “Russian Rosette went really well on the first day at Greymouth and Grove Street won on the middle day at Reefton, and I’m Feeling Lucky is a last start winner.
“El Vaquero is possibly the nicer quality of them, but whether he gets around Kumara or not will be the question. If he were to win or go close, he will probably press on to a Gore Guineas (Listed, 1335m).
“It is a race we think we can win.”
