A suspension incurred by Samantha Wynne caused the Pitmans to go looking for a jockey for much of their team for the vital lead-up meeting to the New Zealand Cup carnival and Bradley was only too pleased to oblige.
"I didn’t have much lined up at Hawke’s Bay," Bradley said.
"With Sam being out, Michael sent me an SOS call and it’s worked out great for both of us."
The trip also means Bradley is reunited with hardy stayer Southern Sav.
The pair teamed up to finish a brave second in last year’s New Zealand Cup, and the 3200m group 3 race is again on the radar for the 7yr-old.
"It’s good to get the feel of him, and see how he is coming up. Hopefully we’ll have another tilt at the New Zealand Cup," Bradley said.
Southern Sav began his spring with a distant sixth at Wingatui on September 9, but the Riccarton track firmed up to a dead4 yesterday — much more within Southern Sav’s comfort zone.
Four of Southern Sav’s eight wins have come on dead tracks, with the other four coming on good surfaces, so any further sunshine will only help him in tomorrow’s $30,000 North Canterbury Cup over 2000m.
A wide draw of barrier 12 is quite all right with Bradley, as well.
"He is a horse I prefer to draw wide with," he said.
"He drew wide in the New Zealand Cup and I was rapt, because he can be a little bit fierce and over-race.
"If he does that, at least you’ve got options [from a wide draw]. If you’re stuck on the fence with nowhere to go, it’s no use pulling your head off and trying to finish off a race. I can see him putting in a bold race, with plenty of improvement."
The presence of 101-rated Miss Three Stars helps Southern Sav (rating 91) in the weights, with only 57kg to carry tomorrow.
Bradley’s ride in the Coupland’s Mile Prelude will also carry very little.
Another Coup is carded to carry just 54kg over the 1400m, although Bradley expects the mare to relish eventually getting up to a mile [1600m].
"It’s probably still a fraction short. The mile is her best distance," he said.
"I can see her running on boldly again with plenty of upside and improvement. She’s only had one start and she normally takes three."
Bradley took eight rides in all for the Pitmans, including Sensei who debuts in the 2yr-old 800m alongside 10 others.
The Dream Ahead colt was a $A60,000 purchase for Michael Pitman at the 2016 Inglis Easter sale in Sydney, and impressed with a win over six others at the Riccarton trials on September 17.
Bradley has not seen the colt yet, but has heard the chat.
"There’s a lot of word around about him. He’s trialled up very nicely."
Zakynthos is in a smart Guineas Trial field, but ran second to Starvoia two starts back, while Maher Moment (race 9) capped off top form with a maiden win at Riccarton earlier this month.
"It’s a nice handy book and Michael’s team is kicking goals everywhere. He’s got some nice stock."
