A rails-hugging ride by Kavish Chowdhoory paved the way for the visiting Michael and Matthew Pitman stable to quinella the opening event on the second day of the annual Riverton Easter Carnival.
The Pitman team picked up two wins on the opening day on Saturday with Tomyturbo (NZ) (Sacred Falls) and Charbano (NZ) (Vespa), and enjoyed immediate success again as Makabar (NZ) (Swiss Ace) improved markedly on his first day fourth by bolting away with the Speights/Ewan Allan Honda Thornbury Handicap (1400m).
Chowdhoory had the son of Swiss Ace poised behind the solid speed set up by race favourite Emanon (NZ) (Burgundy) and when that runner lugged off the fence rounding the home bend, Chowdhoory kicked his mount through in a flash.
Makabar relished the Heavy 10 conditions as he raced clear to win by more than six lengths at the post, with stablemate Seikrid (NZ) (Sacred Falls) nabbing Emanon on the line to claim the runner-up position.
Makabar has proven a real money spinner for the stable, winning six times since moving south from the Team Rogerson stable in 2021.
“He went a good race on the first day and I did tell people before the first day I thought he was our best chance across the carnival,” Michael Pitman said
“He has a terrific record on wet ground and has been a great horse for the stable since he joined us.
“He pulled up well on day one and that showed in the way he went today.”
Pitman believes Makabar could join three other stable runners the team have aimed at the rich $350,000 TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) on 13 April at Riccarton.
“We intend to run him along with Mystic Park, Charbano and Proserve in the Southern Alps Challenge in a fortnight if he can make the field,” he said.
“It is a fantastic concept and if we could get four horses into the inaugural running of the race, we would be pretty chuffed.
“You don’t often get to run for money like that so if we could get a share of it then that would be great.”
TAB Bookmakers have Mystic Park (NZ) (Ocean Park) as the warm $2.50 Fixed Odds favourite for the race which is for horses that have their trainers operating a premises in the South Island from 1 August last year, have been stabled at that premises since 31 December and have run at least twice in the South Island since that date.
Bred by Gerry Harvey at Westbury Stud, Makabar was purchased by Graeme Rogerson at Karaka in 2017 for $55,000 and has now won nine of his 75 starts and over $162,000 for his large group of owners.
Included in his extended pedigree is the 1998-99 champion Australian sprinter Isca (Rory’s Jester) who won six races including twice at Group One level.
