Samantha Wynne's mind was on the job with First Serve in the Canterbury Breeders Stakes yesterday.
But her thoughts were very much back home as she saluted aboard the Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained mare in the group 3 1400m race.
Wynne's aunt, Susan Kelly, died in Ireland earlier this week, and Wynne wore a black arm band to honour her.
''Winners always make things a lot better - I'm missing family a lot at the moment,'' she said.
''But when you get to ride horses like her [First Serve], it helps.''
First Serve had excuses in the listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) on Saturday after taking a whip over the head, and the Pitmans had her entered in both the Stewards Stakes and the Breeders.
Despite the mare having never stepped up past 1200m, Matthew Pitman said the Canterbury Breeders fitted more suitably into the team's future plans with the rising talent.
''I just think it was more suited to her going forward - and at the end of the day, it was the right thing,'' he said.
Jumping from barrier 10, First Serve and Wynne were looking for a midfield spot but no gaps were forthcoming.
''We were hoping to get a bit of cover, but she was racing a bit keenly. Sam did the right thing going forward,'' Pitman said.
Latin Rose came at the mare late, but First Serve kept digging to win by a neck.
''She loves winning as much as I do,'' Wynne said.
''Her heart is big. She's not that overly big herself, but she's amazing and loves racing.''
The group 3 win is also another seal of approval for the Wynne-Pitmans combination which has developed this season.
''I'm glad that we've come good. We didn't have much luck on Saturday but I knew we would come good because they have a nice bunch of horses so on to bigger and better things now.''
First Serve's win was the third for the Pitman camp after Night Nurse (2000m open handicap) and Another Coup (rating 85 1400m) saluted earlier in the day.
Another Coup and Riccarton in November continue to be a potent combination as it was the 5yr-old's third win at a New Zealand Cup carnival.
The daughter of Darci
Brahma won twice as a 3yr-old in 2014 and was back to her best with her 1¾-length win over Star Of Greenbeel.
Michael Pitman said his wife, Diane, was confident the Ray and Jill Coupland-owned mare would produce the goods yesterday.
''Diane and I were talking this morning and I said, 'What's our best chance?'. Emphatically, she said, 'Another Coup'.''
Another Coup is in the rating 85 1800m on Saturday, but Pitman is unlikely to give her a start.
''I probably can't line her up three times in a week, can I?''
