Improving galloper Pittsburgh Pirate ($3.90) backed up his big maiden win at Swan Hill with a narrow victory up in grade at Geelong on Saturday. The Pierro gelding started favourite but was made to fight until the last stride, jockey Neil Farley taking a gap in the home running and riding strongly to the line to prevail over 1715-metres. The early parts of the race panned out nicely for the four-year-old, jumping well and able to take a sit fifth with cover on the fence on settling. Farley found himself in traffic on the home bend however, and it wasn’t until the furlong marker that he was able to punch through a gap and start riding in earnest. Pittsburgh Pirate responded and hit the lead with 100-metres left to run, holding off the fast-finishing second-elect Luna Diva ($5.50), who had enjoyed an unimpeded run throughout. Farley was pleased with the win and noted there is still improvement to come in this gelding. “When the split opened late, he took it really well. He got to the front and had a good think about things, had me worried for a little bit, but we just held on.
“I’m pretty sure he’s just going to keep getting better as he goes out in trip as well, he’s really relaxing (in the run)”.
Henry echoed the thoughts of the in-form hoop, indicating his galloper’s next start would be out over more ground in a fortnight. “There’s a nice 2000-metre benchmark-64 at Kilmore on Cup day (26/11). Kilmore’s a good track for him, he can put himself on speed, particularly up to 2000-metres”.
Pittsburgh Pirate is enjoying an excellent preparation, stringing two strong wins together, and heading into his next run in good order.