23 August 2010
Crack South Island sprinter Coup Align is on target for a Melbourne spring campaign.
Trainer Michael Pitman has been in Melbourne for the past week checking out stabling for the Align gelding for his trans-tasman trip.
“I have decided to stable him at Pat Hyland’s property at Cranbourne,” said Pitman.
“I have had a long association with Pat and he has a beautiful 85 acre property,” he said.
Pitman said there is a vast amount of suitable sprint races for Coup Align in Melbourne during the spring.
“There are no shortage of options for him and we will finalise our plans once we see how he settles in and performs in his initial races,” Pitman said.
Pitman said Coup Align is likely to make his Melbourne debut in the Group 3 A$200,000 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 11.
The longer range primary target for Coup Align is the A$750,000 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 6.
Last season Coup Align was successful in the Group 3 Stewards Handicap at Riccarton and also recorded Listed race wins in the Pegasus Stakes and Eclipse Stakes.
New Zealand jockey Lisa Allpress is being considered to ride Coup Align in Melbourne along with several Australian-based jockeys including Glen Boss and Craig Williams.
Coup Align finished second in a trial at Waimate three weeks ago behind stablemate So Elusive who is also earmarked for a trip to Melbourne.
Pitman also plans to take Eel Win and Eleanor Coup over to race in Melbourne.
