Riverton trainer Kelvin Tyler will head to Ascot Park with a number of strong chances on Saturday, headlined by promising filly Aberlour, who will attempt to score back-to-back Guineas wins.
The daughter of Mongolian Falcon became her sire’s first stakes winner when taking out the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) last month, and bypassed the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) at Wingatui in favour of tackling Saturday’s Listed Southland Guineas (1600m).
Tyler has been pleased with the way she has progressed since her last start stakes triumph and believes she will be hard to beat this weekend. Online bookmakers agree and have installed Aberlour a +320 favourite for her weekend assignment, ahead of Dunedin Guineas winner Collect Your Cash at +400.
“I can’t fault her, she is going into it really well and the track will suit her too,” Tyler said. “It is normally a front runners bias and it is going to suit her style of racing.
“Her work has been really good and she is as good as she can be.”
Tyler has plenty of time for her sire Mongolian Falcon and has been impressed by a couple of the progeny he has by the now Hawke’s Bay-based stallion.
“We wanted to get a nice, cheap stallion in the South Island and we thought we would give him (Mongolian Falcon) a go. At that time he was standing in Waimate, so it wasn’t too far for us,” Tyler said.
“She (Aberlour) is a good horse and she is from a good damline. I have got another one (Mongolian Falcon), a half to Lady Sass. She (More Sass) won at the jumpouts last week and is going to race at Wingatui in two weeks’ time as a two-year-old. She has got a bit of speed too.
“There is no reason he (Mongolian Falcon) won’t make it as a stallion. He was a good racehorse as a young horse and he is well bred. Hopefully he keeps on improving as a stallion.”
Tyler will also be represented in the Southland Guineas by Lady Sass.
“She has been beating herself lately, so she won’t want to be getting back on Saturday because it is going to be tough coming from the back,” he said.
“I just hope she jumps away with them and gets in the race.”
Tyler will have a two-pronged attack in the Invercargill Gold Cup (2600m) courtesy of Shockallia and Zambezi Zipper.
Shockallia was a last start victor of the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m), and Tyler is confident he can add another Gold Cup to the mantle this weekend despite his 60kg impost.
“Shockallia is a class horse but has a bit of weight to lug around this time,” he said. “He is a big, strong horse so hopefully he can carry that, I am sure he will. He has come through his last few races really well and he should go another good race. He will go onto better things I am picking.”
Zambezi Zipper was also triumphant at the Wingatui meeting, but Tyler is more realistic about her chances this weekend.
“She is a good, average horse,” he said. “She just needs a bit of cut in the track. It is probably not the strongest Invercargill Gold Cup, so she will have a runners chance.”
Group One performer Lightning Jack will have a drop back in company when he contests the Southland Stakes (1400m), having competed at Group level in his last three starts.
“Lightning Jack is a class horse. He has done a few miles now, but he seems to be as good as he has been. He feels good and looks good,” Tyler said.
“It is a big step back in grade from what he has been racing against. He probably didn’t have the luck when he went to the North Island, but he will be a good runners chance on Saturday.”
Lightning Jack will be joined in his race by stablemate Go Lotte, while Za Beauteous and Radiant Reach will round out Tyler’s Ascot Park team.
“Za Beauteous has just got the one pace really, but she never lets you down,” Tyler said.
“Radiant Reach is looking for a bit of extra ground. First time over ground last time was a pass mark and hopefully she can go one better this time. She has come through it well.
“She is still in the Oaks (Group 1, 2400m), but she would have to win well on Saturday to justify that, but she is an above average horse.”
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