Halo Pinheiro won over 1000m by four and three-quarter lengths on Saturday. It was the second win in four starts for the 3yr-old filly trained at Ashburton by Pam Gerard. Halo Pinheiro has finished second in her other two starts.
There is a $22,500 rating 75 1200m and a $25,000 r85 1000m on the first day of the National meeting on August 6.
Halo Pinheiro had a rating of 70 before she raced on Saturday.
Halo Pinheiro was a $9500 purchase at the 2009 South Island sale by Greg Jones, of Auckland who races her with Andrew Green, of Auckland. She was offered by Golden Elm Lodge, Dunsandel.
Halo Pinheiro is by Captain Rio and the fifth winner left by Jen's Halo, a Military Plume mare.
Jones has raced other horses from the Gerard stable including Kirkdouglas, Tenshi and Sumotori.
Kirkdouglas, winner of three races, is back in work after having bone chips removed from a knee.
Sumotori is also back in work after sustaining horrifying injuries in a collision with the running rail during a race at Waikouaiti on January 1.
Sumotori was treated by Mosgiel veterinarian, Peter Gillespie.
Flying Alibi will contest the Winter Cup depending on how he comes through his success in the $15,000 Amberley Cup at Riccarton on Saturday.
"He is a light-framed horse and it will depend on how he comes through the race on Saturday and another lead up race, whether or not he starts in the Winter Cup," Michael Stokes, his Waikuku co-trainer, said.
"The alternative is a $30,000 1400m race at the National meeting. If he won another lead up race he would probably start but I just have in the back of my mind that the Winter Cup may be a year too soon against some tough North Island horses."
There are lead-up races available for Flying Alibi at Ashburton, Waterlea and Oamaru.
The $100,000 Winter Cup (1600m) is on August 6.
The Amberley Cup (1600m) was the fourth win for Flying Alibi in 10 starts.
Michael and Tarsha Stokes won the Amberley Cup with Wild Planet in 2003 and 2004. Michael raced Wild Planet with C Stokes. He shares the ownership of Flying Alibi with Laurie Howard, of Timaru.
Flying Alibi was a $10,000 purchase at the 2008 Ready To Run sale.
Leading trainer Michael Pitman took his tally for the season to 100 with the wins of Our Genes and Dior's Gold.
He is hopeful, rather than confident about surpassing the record 108 wins for a season set by Mark Walker last season.
"I need nine wins in seven days of South Island racing and some of those are jumping days which cuts down my chances," he said.
"Mark had 106 wins on June 12 when he set the record."
It was the 17th win for Our Genes for 102 starts.
