Team Tyler set to go the distance

[Wandering Eyes]

Kelvin Tyler will be well represented over two days at Cromwell with a particularly strong hands in the main staying events.

The Riverton trainer’s team at the Central Otago meeting on Friday will be headed by White Robe Lodge & Auripo Enterprises Memorial Cup (2030m) contenders King Of The Castle and Vamos.

The latter is also likely to run at the Otago Racing Club’s fixture on Sunday in the Happy Hire Cromwell Cup (2030m) along with stablemate Master Marko.

Tyler will also be keeping an eye on Otaki where Freddie Time steps out in the Kapiti Valuations Handicap (2100m) after performing with credit in recent sprint outings.

“He had a nice gallop on Wednesday morning, so the camp up there is pretty happy, he’s been screaming out for more ground, so he’ll get his chance,” he said.

On the opening day at Cromwell, Tyler had a slight leaning toward King Of The Castle, who will move back in trip off the back of a fifth in the Winton Cup (1400m).

“He comes in pretty well at the weights, he’s the class horse of the field and I think he’ll take a bit of beating,” Tyler said.

“He obviously had that fall at Riccarton two runs back and before that his three races prior were all good.

“He got stuck on the fence last time when fifth, he couldn’t get out with some lower grade horses coming back on him and couldn’t get out.”

However, he is also expecting Vamos to be competitive off the back of an impressive runs of form.

The six-year-old won two on the bounce at Riccarton and Gore before runner-up finishes at Ascot Park and his home track at Riverton.

“He’s got a bit of weight to lug around, but I can’t fault him really,” Tyler said.

“He’s certainly been going well, he’s flying and there’s not much between the two of them.”

Of his other runners on Friday, Tyler tipped the Ardrossan mare Indie Ardie to go close to an overdue breakthrough in the Peter Lyon Shearing & Breen Construction Maiden (2030m).

“I’m still surprised she hasn’t won a race yet and she’ll really like going up in trip, so she’ll take some beating if she gets her fair share of luck,” he said.

All going well, Tyler plans to send Vamos back into action on Sunday and believes he’s the ideal type to handle the back-up.

“That’s the plan, he’s a big, strong fellow now. He’s a pretty tough horse so I can’t see so I can’t see why he won’t as long as he pulls up well and there’s a bit of juice in the track,” he said.

Barnmate Master Marko finished a solid fifth in the Listed Spring Classic (2000m) before he was successful at Riverton and last time out ran fourth in an open handicap back at Riccarton.

“He will take some beating as well, he’s the perfect horse to be honest,” Tyler said.

“Every day is the same with him, he eats, sleeps and works well and comes in the at the weights nicely.”

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