Coup Catbird was leased four months ago by Murray Wood, who died in the Christchurch earthquake on February 22. He leased Coup Catbird in partnership with leading trainer Michael Pitman.
Wood was the managing director of Canterbury Television. He was a long-time friend of Pitman and raced other horses from the stable, including the winner O'Canny, who was recently retired.
Pitman was not on hand for the win as he is recuperating from a hand injury sustained nine days earlier. He lost the tips of two fingers of his right hand and spent two nights in hospital. His hand was crushed in the door of a horse transporter. He has followed medical advice to avoid knocking the injured hand to allow the best chance of recovery.
Pitman is also in the ownership of El Chico ($70,000 Easter Cup) and Foneleven, his other two winners on Saturday.
El Chico, who has won six races since joining the Pitman stable this season, will step up to 2000m in the weight-for -age Canterbury Gold Cup next Saturday. El Chico won over 2000m at Riccarton last season when trained by Jan Hay.
Bruce Almighty, winner of the Canterbury Cup last year, was diagnosed with a heart fibrillation after his unplaced run in the Founders Cup on Saturday. He will be required to gain a veterinary clearance before his next race.
The winning spree continued for Pitman at Wingatui yesterday with three wins and a third from four starters.
Pitman has taken his tally to 80 wins for the season.
Tango Lass, Conscious Mistake and Hauturu, his winners yesterday, had replacement riders Shankar Muniandy, Lisa Allpress and Courtney Van Der Werf respectively after stable apprentice Brittany Moore did not make the trip to Wingatui.
She had a sore back after riding at Riccarton on Saturday. She missed several weeks riding after she compressed a vertebra in a race fall in January.
Allpress rode El Chico and the winners Coup Catbird and Foneeleven for the stable at Riccarton.
Alysha Collett was suspended for careless riding on the winner Options at Riccarton on Saturday. She admitted shifting in over the final 100m, causing a check to Sandie. Collett is out from today until midnight on April 20.
