New Zealand trainer Michael Pitman is waiting for the green light from doctors to travel across the Tasman after another round of cancer treatment, with his mare Savvy Coup looming as just one of a handful of Cox Plate rivals for Winx.
Pitman, who trains from the shaky isles' south island in partnership with son Matthew, is likely to learn on Wednesday whether he will be allowed to board a flight to be at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Patiently waiting: Michael Pitman.Credit:Martin Hunter
While nearly all the focus will be on Winx's unprecedented attempt at a fourth Cox Plate, Pitman's presence trackside – rather than watching from a hospital bed – will perhaps surpass anything the great mare does on the track.
Pitman was diagnosed with bowel cancer earlier this year.
"The surgeons know what I want to do," Pitman said. "They said, 'There's no reason if you keep going the way you are why you can't go on a flight'.
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"[But] I have to be careful. And I'll be honest and upfront because that's the type of bloke I am. I'll be so absolutely rapt to be standing in the birdcage alongside [Chris] Waller, [Darren] Weir, [Saeed bin] Suroor, Aiden O'Brien's outfit. It would be a huge, huge thrill to be there.
"[But] I won't be coming if there's any doubt about it. I just can't afford to. It's my whole life at stake, not just one race."
I won't be coming if there's any doubt about it. I just can't afford to. It's my whole life at stake, not just one race
Michael Pitman
Savvy Coup could take her place in one of the smallest Cox Plate fields in 50 years as Winx's 28-race winning streak spanning more than three years decimates Australasia's weight-for-age ranks.
Winx accounted for just seven rivals last year to equal Kingston Town's record of three straight Cox Plate wins, but might have even fewer horses accompany her to the start in 2018.
The final field will be declared on Tuesday morning with Benbatl ($9) and last year's runner-up Humidor ($15) a distant second and third in betting behind $1.20 favourite Winx.
Pitman had initially pencilled in the Matriarch Stakes during the Melbourne Cup carnival as Savvy Coup's main Australian aim, but wanted to raise the bar in the Cox Plate after her last start group 1 Livamol Classic win at Hastings. And he's desperate to see it in person.
"I was supposed to get out [of hospital] last week, but I had a few complications," Pitman said. "I ended up having a further operation on Sunday. But I'll be fine.
"I've just got to get through this and I won't be the last person to be healed of cancer and I won't be the first. I'll be fine, I know I will be. The treatment has gone unbelievably well.
"And I've paid for my trip. As soon as the odds came out for the Livamol I had a decent bet her on to win that. I was confident she had come back well."
Savvy Coup will gallop at Moonee Valley at the traditional Breakfast With The Best on Tuesday morning having arrived in Melbourne last week. She was rated a $34 chance with BetEasy on Monday.
"It's massive for us [to be in the race]," Pitman said. "She won't be making up the numbers and she deserves her chance. She'll have a little look at the track [on Tuesday] and she won't be doing an awful lot. It's more of a sighter."
Chris Johnson will ride Savvy Coup in the Cox Plate for Pitman, who 10 years ago became the first south island conditioner to win the New Zealand trainers premiership.
And he's waited a long time to have a Cox Plate runner in Savvy Coup, which won the New Zealand Oaks earlier this year before finishing fifth in Unforgotten's Australian Oaks at Randwick.
Adam Pengilly is a Sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.
