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First Serve is likely to tackle 1400 metres for the first time at Riccarton on Wednesday.
The preferred option for the highly-regarded mare is the Gr.3 Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes ahead of the Gr.3 Lindauer Stewards’ Stakes Handicap.
“It might be a bit easier on her in the long term,” said Matthew Pitman, who trains in partnership with his father Michael.“If she was to win it, as opposed to the Stewards, she might get less of a penalty. It looks the softer option and we’ve also got two other chances in the Stewards.”
However, the stable warned punters that their thinking may change in the event of any overnight rain, which would jeopardise the chances of their leading Stewards hope Kinagat.First Serve was a beaten favourite last Saturday when she finished fourth in the Listed Pegasus Stakes, but her effort didn’t disappoint her trainers.
“She got a bit worked up before the race, which isn’t like her, and she got a bump early on and she was held up a bit in the straight,” Pitman said.Rider Samantha Wynne also reported on unsaddling that First Serve was hesitant to take a gap after twice being struck in the head by a rival jockey’s whip.
“She lengthened out the last bit and she’s come through the race well so we’re happy with her,” Pitman said.It was just the second time that First Serve has tasted defeat in her seven start career, the first coming at Te Rapa where she ran second behind Xtravagant in last season’s Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes.
“She’s still learning and she’ll be a better mare in the autumn,” Michael Pitman said. “There are a lot of options for her next year.”