Kelvin Tyler hopes to kick off an exciting weekend on a winning note at Wingatui on Friday, before he is represented on Sydney’s biggest race day of the spring with Aberlour (NZ) (Mongolian Falcon).
Based in Riverton, Tyler will take a team of eight up to the Dunedin venue, hoping to strike early with Ripa Time (NZ) (Time Test) contesting the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series MDN (1600m), Indie Ardie (NZ) (Ardrossan) in the NZB Mega Maiden Series (1500m) and Snow Brainer (NZ) (Jon Snow) in the Grand Casino MDN (1200m).
While still maideners, the trio have all shown ability on raceday and Tyler believes Floor Moerman and Donovan Cooper’s apprentice claims will enhance their chances on the heavy surface.
“They’re all quite nice horses going forward, they’ve got a bit of weight relief which helps as well and I’ve targeted these races to kick off with,” he said.
“I was surprised Indie Ardie didn’t win a race last year because she’s well above average, but there’s not much between the three of them, I expect them all to go close in not the strongest of maiden fields.”
Promising mare Flash Roca (NZ) (El Roca) will resume off a 147-day absence in the Property Brokers – Ray Kean R75 (1200m), having won two of her last three starts during the autumn.
“She’s coming up really well, she’s a nice horse and I’m quite confident she can go a good race,” Tyler said. “I think she’ll go through the grades quite easily, her work has been good and she looks amazing.
“I think it’s a good race for her to kick off in.”
The most experienced of his contingent, Go Lotte (NZ) (Telperion), will chase her 11th victory and third at Wingatui in the Otago Engineering Open (1400m), with stablemate Radiant Reach (NZ) (Vadamos) also in the mix with a light weight (54kg).
“This is probably Go Lotte’s best distance on a heavy track, hopefully it’s not too heavy there and she should be ready to strike about now,” Tyler said.
“Radiant Reach has a bad habit of losing two or three lengths at the gates which makes it harder for herself, but both are as good as I can get them so hopefully they’ll put their best foot forward.”
Further north on Saturday, it will be take three for Freddie Time (NZ) (Time Test), as the son of Time Test heads to Trentham following two abandoned meetings at Otaki over the last week.
The four-year-old asserted himself well in a competitive Rating 75 race at the Upper Hutt course a month ago, and with apprentice Liam Kauri remaining on board, Tyler has faith he can repeat that effort in the Contemporary Korowai Designs (1400m).
“He’s apparently been working the track down up there, the wet track won’t bother him at all and he’s ready to run a good race,” he said. “He’s a good horse and he’ll run a good race, because that’s what good horses do.”
“It’s a big field and the inside draw is probably not ideal, we’d probably want to get him out and around them, but I’ll let Liam sort it out.”
Around 45 minutes later, Tyler’s focus will turn to Everest Day at Randwick, where his stakes-winning mare Aberlour is a key player in the Gr.3 Angst Stakes (1600m), a A$285,000 feature for the mares.
As a three-year-old, the daughter of Mongolian Falcon was an eye-catching winner of the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) and Listed Southland Guineas (1600m) before joining Joe Pride’s barn at Warwick Farm.
Tyler retained a 30 percent share in Aberlour and was rapt to see the mare back near her best this campaign, winning one and placing in two of her three starts before a fourth-place finish in the Gr.2 Stocks Stakes (1500m) at The Valley last time out.
“She had a bad draw and was three-wide most of the way, but she’s hit the line really strong,” Tyler said. “150 out she looked like she may even hold on, but with the work during the race, it probably took its toll against those good horses and I was really proud of her.
“Randwick is her favourite track and Alysha Collett rides her very well, she knows how she likes to be ridden. She’s got a nice draw so we’re quietly confident, you need everything to go your way in these big races but she’s going well.
“Joe does a great job, he’s a good person and great to deal with. I tell people that I would trust Joe Pride with my credit card, because whether it’s good news or bad news, he’s very honest.”
Aberlour is currently rated a $10 hope for the Angst, with fellow Kiwi-bred mare Perfumist (NZ) (El Roca) leading the market at $3.10.