Michael Pitman has one simple pleasure in life.
"We were all put on this planet for a certain reason," he says.
"I think my reason is to make sure people enjoy winning races which I love doing myself."
But earlier this year, that pleasure was rocked when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer.
However, the trainer who is just nine wins short of 1500 in his career, isn’t letting it shake him - instead choosing to speak up to help raise awareness.
Which is why this weekend's Daffodil Raceday meeting in Hastings has some added importance for the Christchurch trainer.
"I was one of those blokes that never wanted to know about cancer," he says.
Pitman trains alongside his son Matthew who says his dad’s fight is hitting close to home.
"What he's going through now is very, very tough and I guess back when we found out you sort of prepare yourself for it but it's still a shock."
They'll be all eyes on Hastings on Saturday when their New Zealand Oaks-winner Savvy Coup lines up in the group one Tarzino Trophy.
"To have her run on that day it's a big, big thing and to have her win it would be even bigger," Matthew says.
As for Pitman senior, he'll have an operation in eight weeks to remove the cancer - by 12 months he hopes to be 100 per cent again.
"You've got to keep going," he says.
"You've got to fight."
SHARE ME