Brighton trainer Terry Evans has former smart galloper Winter Guest to thank for his latest stable star Pittenweem.

Pittenweem (2f Dash For Cash – Compactus by Spartacus) won the $50,000 Tasmanian Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in Launceston on Thursday night.  She collared the leaders after being allowed to coast along in her comfort zone by Japanese jockey Shuji Amana.

“She’s not real big, but she’s all heart,” Evans said after watching his filly down Crown Consul (Econsul) and Ready To Pounce (Hold That Tiger).  It was her second win since a debut victory in December.

Evans bought Pittenweem as a yearling from North Road Bloodstock for just $5,000.  “I went over to the Inglis Melbourne Sale specifically to look at her.  She’s related to Winter Guest and when I saw her in the flesh, I had to have her.”

Evans owned and trained Winter Guest to win 15 races during the 1990s.  “He was a marvellous horse to me and my family.  Every time we were doing it tough, Winter Guest would poke his nose out to kept us going.”

Pittenweem’s name also has a link with Winter Guest.  “I did a Google search on Pittenweem,” Evans added.  “It’s a small town in Scotland where they filmed a movie called A Winter Guest!”

Her sire Dash For Cash has built up a 61% winners-to-runner strike-rate since retiring to Swettenham Stud in 2003.  His first crop included the stakes winners Bank Robber, Dandy Dollar and Extension Of Time and, at last count, he had sired 175 winners of 433 races.

His 2yo winners-to-runners strike-rate also takes some beating.  He is Australia’s leading sire in that category among stallions with at least four crops of racing age and 150 named foals.  

Dash For Cash (Secret Savings) will stand for an $8,500 (inc gst) at Swettenham Stud in 2011.