Waikouaiti has provided a launching pad for speedy filly Lovebug to have a shot at New Zealand’s richest race.
The Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained 2yr-old left her rivals in her wake when speeding to an impressive victory in race 3 yesterday.
The winner’s slice of the $10,00 stake for the 1150m dash should provide enough stake money for Lovebug to qualify for next month’s Karaka Million 2yr-old feature at Ellerslie.
"That should qualify her for the Karaka Million. It should be enough to guarantee her a start," Michael Pitman said.
Lovebug trialled impressively before having her first start, in listed company, in the Welcome Stakes during the New Zealand Cup Carnival.
After that race did not pan out well for the Ifraaj galloper, the Pitman stable regrouped and lined her up for a slick win at Wingatui on Boxing day.
Lovebug backed that up to win yesterday.
"She is a really nice filly," Pitman said.
"She was unlucky on debut — she ran ninth but she should have ran about fifth."
Lovebug was knocked down to Pitman for $20,000 during the book 2 section of last year’s national yearling sales at Karaka.
The daughter of Towkay mare L’amour is set to compete for 50 times her purchase price in the Karaka Million over 1200m on February 5.
"She will have her next start at Ellerslie on the 12th. It will be a practice run right-handed," Pitman said.
Lovebug headed a Pitman stable trifecta, holding out All About Magic and Our Rosette yesterday.
Her win was one of three victories for the trainers at Waikouaiti. The father-and-son pairing also prevailed in race 4 with Our Girl Gilly and race 6 with Magnolia Man.
Cloudy skies that produced a yellow-tinged smoky haze across much of Otago caused concern before yesterday’s meeting began. However officials deemed visibility good enough for racing and the meeting was run without an incident arising from the conditions.
