It’s a long trip from Riverton to Riccarton but travelling up with two stakes contenders and a Group One performer made it a little easier for Kelvin Tyler.
The Southland trainer made the eight-hour trip north on Thursday and is looking forward to tackling feature racing at Riccarton Park this weekend.
Group One performer Lightning Jack (NZ) (Per Incanto) is in fine fettle ahead of the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile Trial (1400m) on Saturday, having placed in his prior outing over 1200m at Ashburton earlier this month.
He has once again been lumbered with 62kg but will gain some weight relief courtesy of apprentice jockey Denby-Rose Tait’s four-kilogram claim.
“It was a great run last start. He is right on the mark where we want to be,” Tyler said.
“As always, his biggest obstacle is the extra weight he has got to lug around, but I can’t fault the horse.”
Tyler is excited to have Tait aboard this weekend and believes the promising hoop has a bright future.
“She is a really talented rider and is starting to get a few opportunities, even up in the North Island, so we are probably lucky we got onto her early,” he said.
“She really suits the horse and knows him, so we are lucky to have her.”
Lightning Jack is on a path towards the Gr.3 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) at Riccarton next month, but Tyler said those plans aren’t set in stone.
“The Coupland’s Mile is his number one target, but it just depends,” he said. “If he is going to be top weight and lonely up there, there are plenty of other options, it is not the end of the road for us and we’ll just assess it as we go along. The Captain Cook (Gr.1, 1600m) is a good option.”
Lightning Jack was joined on the float trip north by promising fillies Radiant Reach (NZ) (Vadamos) and Lady Sass (NZ) (Staphanos), who will contest the Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) on Saturday.
“They are two quality fillies,” Tyler said.
“Lady Sass is screaming out for a wee bit of give in the track and more ground, and I believe she is right up to the better ones.
“Radiant Reach is a way better horse than what she showed at Ashburton (last start when ninth in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes, 1400m) and I am pretty sure you will see a better horse this week.”
Meanwhile, Tyler is excited about King Of The Castle’s (NZ) (Castledale) prospects in the A$3 million The Big Dance (1600m) on November 7.
The son of Castledale gained a berth in the Randwick feature when winning the Big Dance Wild Card (1600m) at the Sydney track for trainer Joe Pride last Saturday.
“We are really excited to be a part of it. Joe Pride has done a great job and he is just a great guy. His horses are going so well,” Tyler said.
“The Big Dance is a 20-horse field I understand, so there are going to be a few hard luck stories. Hopefully we can draw quite nicely and get a fair crack at it because it is a lot of money, it is quite exciting.”
Bred by Ravelston Stud, King Of The Castle was initially trained in New Zealand by Tyler, for whom he won three and placed in two of his nine starts.
Tyler said he gained plenty of overseas interest in the horse following his impressive win at Riccarton two years ago, and has enjoyed remaining in the ownership and watching the horse flourish in Australia where he has added a further three victories to his tally.
“I think it was this meeting two years ago he had the fastest sectionals all day after 800m, he was even faster than the open sprinters,” Tyler said.
“The guys in Australia don’t miss much and got onto him. He is a high-quality horse and Joe has been very patient with him and it is paying dividends now.
“I have only met the owners once over there, but it has been great ride.”
Tyler’s family have already booked their tickets to the Big Dance, but he has yet to decide if he will join them trackside on the day.
“We have got a bit going on back here with New Zealand Cup week coming up and Melbourne Cup Day at Wingatui,” he said.
“My two sons and daughter are going over and they are trying to get me to go. I haven’t said no yet, but I’ll decide closer to the time.”
