Michael and Matthew Pitman will consider options on both sides of the Tasman with their rising stable star Mystic Park (NZ) (Ocean Park), who faced his toughest test to date at Riccarton on Saturday and passed with flying colours.
The local four-year-old stepped into open class for the first time in the Johnny Fresh Darfield & Yaldhurst Open Sprint (1400m), and he was sent out as a red-hot $1.50 favourite after showing real X-factor in his rapid rise through the grades this season.
Mystic Park kicked off his campaign with a four-length win in Rating 65 company on New Zealand 2000 Guineas Day in November, then may have struggled with the quick back-up when unplaced on New Zealand Cup Day a week later.
The Ocean Park gelding returned to his winning groove in his next appearance at Timaru on December 28, followed by a close second to Madam Dubai after a three-wide run on January 27.
Mystic Park carried 60kg to a stunning four-length romp in a 1400m Rating 75 on February 10, prompting the Pitmans to raise the bar again for Saturday’s open handicap over the same course and distance. Once again, Mystic Park was well and truly up to the task.
Caught three wide in the early stages of the race, jockey Tina Comignaghi decided to slide forward and take up a position on the outside of the front-running Tradition.
Mystic Park travelled well up to the turn and hit the lead at the top of the straight, but he faced challenges on both flanks as horses lined up six-wide across the track. Mystic Park found another gear and edged ahead, beating the well-performed Perfect Scenario by three-quarters of a length and stopping the clock at a quick 1:21.69.
Mystic Park has now had nine starts for five wins, three placings and $120,920 in stakes, having been bought by the Pitman stable for $40,000 as a yearling at Karaka in 2021.
His victory in the TAB Southern Alps Golden Ticket (1400m) two starts ago secured him a spot in the field for the inaugural $350,000 TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) on April 13, although Michael Pitman warned that he may not be a certain starter in that lucrative innovation race restricted to South Island-based stables.
“You’d say that it’s the obvious race to target, but it is going to depend on how much weight he gets,” he said. “We won’t go there just for the sake of it if it’s not the right thing to do for the horse. It’s worth $350,000, but there’s plenty of races worth that and much more in Australia, and I have no doubt he could go over there and be competitive. There are million-dollar races in Brisbane that he could run in during their winter carnival. So, we’ll wait and see where his rating ends up and then make a plan.
“He’s a fantastic horse, and not only because he’s got such exciting ability, but he’s also just a lovely horse to do anything with. We’re thrilled to have him.
“Before he even raced I told the owners I thought he was a Group horse and potentially a Group One horse. There’s obviously quite a few steps that a horse has to take to get to that level, but he’s managed every step so far and done it easily.
“He’s won five out of nine now and has it all in front of him. This was only his second start beyond 1200m today, he’s won both times, and he’s bred to go over further – he’s out of a Dubawi mare, which makes him pretty rare in New Zealand. I think his owners have a lot to look forward to with him.”
