Pitt stable riding the highs in the Sunshine State

By Jordan Gerrans

Ride The Highs posted the fastest time of Tuesday’s QBRED Triad heats for the two-year-old girls and trainer Lisa Pitt has warned there is more improvement to come with their talented youngster. 

The Victorian filly started short in the market and scored by almost 10 metres in a dominant display in the third heat.

The husband-and-wife team of Mark (driver) and Lisa Pitt have always had high hopes for their emerging filly after parting with $20,000 to secure her at the Brisbane APG Sales.

Ride The Highs is a daughter of Ride High who Mark drove a handful of times during his career, which included a Group 1 prize at Melton back in 2018.

The Pitts have not done much travelling north with their team in recent years so it was a fact-finding mission at first with their filly.

Lisa spotted the progeny of Ride High online through the sales process and with Mark’s close connection to the horse, the rest is history. 

“We didn’t really have much intention of taking her back up there to Brisbane after we bought her,” Lisa said.

“But, the money is too good not to take her up. They are hard to come by, races like this.”

Tuesday’s heats lead towards the rich Group 1 Finals which will be held at Albion Park on August 16.

Lisa is looking after the stable's dozen or so in work in regional Victoria while driver and husband Mark has headed north with Ride The Highs and is staying at Mark Dux’s barn in the Sunshine State.

Lisa will ensure she is in town for the Group 1 decider later this month.

The Pitts were hopeful of taking a travel companion with Ride The Highs, which fell through, with Lisa declaring the long trip away alone was hardly ideal for the juvenile pacer. 

In the heat over 1660 metres, Ride The Highs was particularly impressive in the closing stages as she hit the line and drew away from her opposition on Tuesday in her first look at Albion Park. 

“We were really happy with how she went,” the trainer said.

“We didn’t know how she was going to go because we have never travelled horses that far before and she didn’t settle in 100%, she is a bit of a hot head.

“We are hoping we will see more improvement again into the Final once she has settled in properly. She is really fast and gets off the gate good.

“She hasn’t had to do it the tough way so we will see.”

Ride The Highs had put the writing on the wall in Victoria that she would be mighty competitive in the Sunshine State. 

She recorded two victories and as many minors in five attempts in her home state. 

The 30-year-old Lisa thinks they have a potential star-in-the-making if the bay filly can keep her mind on the job. 

“We have always really liked her and it is a lot harder down here because you run into a few of Emma Stewart’s,” she said.

“We think she can go a long way if her attitude stays right.

“She has a bit too much attitude to leave her with anyone else during the series, so Mark is with her for that reason.”

In the other two heats for the two-year-olds ladies, Our Ultimate Kimmy for Jarrod Alchin and local Ruby Rhayne Bow claimed victory.

In the boy's division, the fastest heat went to Fire And Passion for the powerful Dixon team, while Barsby fought back for an impressive win and Fight For Victory took out the other heat.

The heats for the three-year-olds will be held on Friday night at Albion Park before the Finals on Saturday of next week.