New Zealand
Tyler on the hunt this Easter
Riverton’s dual Easter Weekend meeting has gone from strength-to-strength in recent years, and it has become an attractive proposition for out-of-region trainers.
The Riverton Rural Transport Riverton Cup (2147m) has been a key instigator, with the race established as the final leg of the Southern Cups Bonus Series, where double points are up for grabs for the winner-takes-all $50,000 bonus.
Saturday's meeting has also been bolstered by the Listed Liquorland Gore Guineas (1200m), which has been transferred from Gore's February meeting, which was abandoned following a slip in the first race.
While trainers from Canterbury and further afield descend on the Southland township this holiday weekend, local trainer Kelvin Tyler is readying his team to defend the southern spoils.
The Riverton horseman has been a staple of the meeting and will bid to once again claim the biggest prizes on offer, including the Riverton Cup.
"It has been a good race to us and this field is probably the strongest it has ever been," Tyler said. "We will need everything to go our way this year."
Tyler will have a two-pronged attack in his local cup, which he is hoping will turn into three, but he requires a further scratching for last start winner Sight To See to gain a start.
"It is gutting as she is flying and is probably the pick of them," Tyler said. "Hopefully we can get a start. If she doesn't there is next year for her and there is a race on Monday for her.
"But she he is going well and any rain will help her."
Tyler's other two contenders include Vamos and Prince Alby , with both geldings seeking to recapture form.
"It is Vamos' second run back, he has had a trial in between his first run and this one," Tyler said. "His work has been very good. He will run a good race but he has drawn pretty badly (16) for a horse that likes to go forward, so we will need a little bit of luck there.
"Prince Alby is racing just below his standard. He has been over racing quite badly so I have changed a bit of gear, put a noseband on him and it seems to have worked. He trialled nicely last week so hopefully he can turn his form around because he is a good horse when he is right."
Tyler is hoping he can snare some black-type with last start winner Better Shared when she contests the Gore Guineas.
The daughter of Overshare underwent surgery last year to remove a growth in her throat, and Tyler said she has returned a renewed horse and he thinks she is capable of featuring in the finish this weekend.
"She hasn't had many starts," Tyler said. "She had a wee growth in her throat and I got it removed and she can breathe properly now. She is a really fast horse, she is big and strong and solid.
"The Guineas field has come up strong, she has got a good draw (1) and has got good gate speed. I will be disappointed if she is not in the top three or four. She will be a good chance and I just hope everything goes her way."
Stablemate Four The Moment is on the ballot for the Guineas, but Tyler is leaning towards starting the gelding in the Forde Auto Services Fairfax Handicap (1200m) regardless.
"He has been a bit disappointing," Tyler said. "He damaged a tendon sheath galloping on the plough at Riccarton over Cup Week and he has taken a bit of time to get over that, but it doesn't seem to be worrying him now. He is a really capable horse when he is right.
"We are tossing up whether to line him up in the 65 1200m even if he does get a start because he is drawn out a bit in the Guineas."
Tyler is also looking forward to the return of Martell in the Riverton Butchery Aparima Handicap (1200m), with the son of El Roca having won three of his four starts for Tyler last year.
"He has been a great horse," Tyler said. "It has been a bit frustrating because he has been ready to go for a wee while but there have just been no Open 1200m races around.
"We thought we would be patient and wait for his home track and he has come up really well. He gets some nice weight relief so he will run a good race, he is a genuine horse."
Tyler will kick-off the meeting with well-bred juvenile Swift Thinker in the Agricentre South Excellency Stakes (1100m).
He has a good opinion of the daughter of Armory but said she will benefit with more time.
"She has only had the one jumpout, but she is a really nice horse," he said. "She is actually a half to (Group One performer) Sweynesday.
"She is certainly a horse with a lot of ability, but she has got a lot of maturing to do. She is really good mentally but physically she needs to strengthen, as you would expect being a two-year-old.
"If she can run in the first two or three it would be great and she can go out for a spell and we will get her in for spring."
Tyler is also excited about his prospects in the last race on the card, the Lawson Forestry Contracting Waipango Handicap (1600m), where he will line-up last start winner Ripa Time.
"She is a quality three-year-old filly that is looking for a bit of ground and a bit of cut in the track," he said. "I quite like her on Saturday."
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