Fresh off his gallant fourth placing in Tuesday’s A$3 million The Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick, Kiwi-bred gelding King Of The Castle (NZ) (Castledale) could be chasing another big Australian purse.
Initially trained in New Zealand by Kelvin and Aimee Tyler, the now seven-year-old gelding was sold to clients of Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride last year after winning three races in his homeland, with Kelvin and his wife Vanessa remaining in the ownership.
He has gone on to win a further three races across the Tasman, giving Pride the confidence to press on towards The Big Dance, with Tyler and his family flying over to take in the occasion.
“There wasn’t any dancing, but I certainly had a good day,” Tyler quipped.
“At the last minute I decided to go over and it was a great experience. There was a nice, big crowd and it was a really fun day. Everyone was in good spirits.
“The draws seem to be so important over there because quite often those tracks have got inside bias. He did a bit of work and was parked out there, but it was a great run and we were thrilled.”
Tyler may need to make another trip across the Tasman to see his gelding try and capture the lion’s share of another big purse later this month.
“He might go to Gosford in a fortnight and the week after he (Pride) might put in a nomination for The Gong, which is worth A$1 million,” Tyler said.
“Whether he chooses to go back to his own grade or chases the big one I will just leave up to Joe, he has done a great job.”
Tyler will be keeping a close eye across the Tasman this weekend as well, with stable graduate She’s A Con (NZ) (Contributer) set to contest the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.
She’s A Con was initially raced in New Zealand by Tyler’s brother Allan and sister-in-law Marie, with the daughter of Contributer going on to win two and place in three of her seven starts for Tyler, culminating with victory in the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton in April.
She’s A Con was subsequently sold to Ace Bloodstock, with Allan and Marie retaining a share, and she was entrusted to the care of Cranbourne trainer Grahame Begg, for whom she has had two starts, including a seventh placed finish in the Gr.3 Catanach’s Jewellers Vase (1600m) last month.
“Her first run was really good and she was probably just a bit flat in the second run,” Tyler said.
“Stepping up to 2000m with the blinkers on should suit and by the sounds of it she is really well, so hopefully she will be competitive on Saturday. It is pretty exciting to see her develop over there.
“I think it is a hard year for the three-year-olds stepping up against the older horses at four. From what I understand, it is going to be a quiet year for her. She might not have many runs this side of Christmas and we might wait until the autumn and let her grow and develop a bit more.”
Meanwhile, Tyler has made the long trek north to Riccarton from his Riverton base for New Zealand Cup Week, with Prince Alby (NZ) (Sacred Falls) kicking off the southern stable’s assault in Saturday’s Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy (2600m).
“We targeted this race a few months ago after Grand National Week,” Tyler said.
“I can’t fault him, he’s coming up as good as I could have him. He is nice and fresh, which he likes to be. I am hoping the track has a bit of give in it and that is a genuine (Good)4.”
While Tyler believes Prince Alby is a natural two-miler, he is playing a patient game with his gelding and has elected to bypass next week’s Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m).
“I haven’t nominated him for the New Zealand Cup because I don’t think he is quite ready for that yet,” he said.
“The Wellington Cup is going to be his next target after this if he comes through it alright. He will go two miles on his ear.
“I just want to space his races. There is not too much to him, it is hard to get weight on him. He is the biggest eater in our stable, but he just doesn’t want to put weight on. I don’t want to tax him too much, he is worth looking after.”
Tyler is taking five other runners north, headed by Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) contender Lightning Jack (NZ) (Per Incanto).
“We have got six horses coming up with some good chances – Lightning Jack, Go Lotte, a nice maiden called Za Beauteous, Lady Sass, and a maidener in the three-year-old race on the Wednesday called Aberlour, who is going really nice. I think we have got some good chances,” he said. “Lightning Jack is in the Coupland’s Mile and then we will head up to Wellington again and take on some of those better races like the Captain Cook (Gr.1, 1600m). He looks really good and has come right at the right time. He will carry a bit of weight around, so it is going to be tough for him.”
