First Stakes Success for Pins Filly Reputabelle

Media Release - Saturday March 5

With a dominant performance at Wingatui by a rising star of the South Island’s three-year-old ranks, Michael and Matthew Pitman have added some black-type glow to a highly successful family association.

Reputabelle dashes away with the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui Photo Credit: Tayler Strong

The Riccarton trainers saddled Reputabelle for a runaway victory in Saturday’s Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m), powering clear in the hands of Tina Comignaghi to beat runner-up Irish Red by five and three-quarter lengths.

Reputabelle was bred by Waikato Stud and is by Pins out of Really Reputable. That makes her a full-sister to the former Pitman runner Morse Code, who won nine races and was also a two-time fourth placegetter in the Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m). Another full-sister, the John Morell-trained Florence Jean, was a Group Three placegetter.

“The full-sister Morse Code was a very good mare that we had in our stable, and now we’ve got this really nice filly as well,” Michael Pitman said. “You don’t see many horses win Listed races as easily as that – that was a big performance.”

Unplaced in three starts in the spring, Reputabelle has turned the corner in the New Year with a hat-trick of increasingly impressive victories. In contrast to her speedy sister Morse Code, she appears to be relishing longer distances.

That is set to be put to the test in her next two starts – the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on April 9 and the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at the same venue two weeks later. Those two features are the third and fourth legs of the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series, in which Reputabelle now shares first place on the table with Art De Triomphe. They have earned 7 points apiece.

Advertisement

“This is a filly who’s really put everything together over the last few weeks,” Pitman said. “We knew that she was always going to be a nice horse – she just needed a little bit of time. We’re seeing the results now of that patient approach, and it’s very pleasing.

“I’m not sure that it was necessarily an exceptional field that she beat today, but she did it in very good style. She’ll carry on through the rest of the Southern Filly Series now, starting with the 1600-metre race at Riccarton and then stepping up to 2000 in the Warstep.

“A lot of fillies who are going well at this time of the year, you’re not sure how they’ll handle that trip when they get to the Warstep. But I think she’ll absolutely love it.”

Reputabelle has now won three of her six starts and $59,190 in stakes for a syndicate of owners that features long-time Pitman stable clients Jim Bruford, Chris Griffin and Sue Bourke. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Airfreight Stakes LR 1400m

Wingatui Track: Good(3) Time: 1:24.26
1
Reputabelle
- 3f Pins (AUS) x Really Reputable (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: A Comignaghi 56.5
2
5.8
Irish Red
- 3f Burgundy (NZ) x Niamh Elizabeth (NZ) (Per Incanto (USA))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: J D Laking 56.5
3
6.2
Just Maybe
- 3f Tivaci (AUS) x Will She (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Ms K Williams Rdr: Ms K Williams 56.5
4
7.2
Shameless Tart
- 3f Shamexpress (NZ) x Clos De Tart (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: Andrew Carston Rdr: T R Moseley 56.5
5
7.5
Burgie
- 3f Ghibellines (AUS) x Norah (NZ) (Gallant Guru (AUS))
Tnr: B & S Anderton Rdr: C A Campbell 56.5
6
8.8
Zacat
- 3f Zacinto (GB) x Compact Pussycat (NZ) (Al Akbar (AUS))
Tnr: N W Coulbeck Rdr: C W Johnson 56.5
7
8.9
Sorrento
- 3f Iffraaj (GB) x Needlly (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: J & K Parsons Rdr: K Mudhoo 56.5
8
9.4
Roca Fundeeda
- 3f Road To Rock (AUS) x Te Toro Lass (NZ) (Ekraar (USA))
Tnr: Andrew Carston Rdr: W F Pinn 56.5
9
10.7
No Bouquet
- 3f Telperion (AUS) x La Celestina (NZ) (Don Eduardo (NZ))
Tnr: Jo-Ann Gordon Rdr: Rohan Mudhoo 56.5
10
13.2
Venturesome
- 3f Ocean Park (NZ) x Ransom Success (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: Ms S Cunningham Rdr: L Callaway 56.5
11
16.2
Show Me Champagne
- 3f Showcasing (GB) x Dancing Light (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: K Chowdhoory 56.5
12
19.5
Duck Duck Goose
- 3f Rageese (AUS) x Code Black (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: K & A Tyler Rdr: Brandon May 56.5
13
24.5
Miss Otis Regrets
- 3f Rageese (AUS) x Honor And Cherish (NZ) (Coats Choice (AUS))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: B M Murray 56.5
14
43.0
Roussanne
- 3f Belardo (IRE) x Triage (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: M & M Pitman Rdr: D L Turner 56.5
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 26
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 25
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Cambridge Stud to Sell Entire Draft at Karaka 2026
Leading thoroughbred nursery Cambridge Stud have committed their full support for NZB’s 2026 National Yearling Sales Series, with the announcement they will be selling 100% of their yearling stock at Karaka. 
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Tatts Tiara
With Royal Ascot done and dusted for another year, let's turn our attention to the final G1 of the Australian racing season as some very expensive mares seek to land that elusive G1 and three runners will carry the Yulong colours!
Mulberry Racing Secure Everest Slot
Racing NSW today announced that Mulberry Racing has secured a slot in the $20 million TAB Everest for a term of three years commencing with the running of this year’s race.
Vinery Stud Announce Adam White as Interim Manager
From the 1st of July, Vinery Stud is pleased to announce the appointment of Adam White as Interim General Manager, following the resignation of Peter Orton. A dedicated and long-standing member of the Vinery team, Adam brings a wealth of experience and an in-depth understanding of both the business and the industry to this pivotal role.
Promising 2YOs for Pike
Tony Pike found it difficult to split his juvenile charges the last time they took each other on and it’s the same story at Ruakaka.
Sires With Winners - Friday June 27
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Heads Vibrant Weanling Sale
The  2025 National Weanling Sale saw its first dual-code weanling session in play at Karaka, with a total aggregate of $2,410,000 outlaid across 84 lots by a strong domestic buying bench plus international support from Australia, Hong Kong and China.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Trial action was at Randwick on Friday and there were six heats for juveniles that included some interesting unraced youngsters highlighted by the full brother to a promising young sire, a well bred son of Farnan and an Extreme Choice filly.