Tyler excited about Freddie Time’s prospects

[Wandering Eyes]

Kelvin Tyler is excited about the future with Freddie Time after he came within a nose of victory in last Saturday’s Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2300m) at Trentham.

The four-year-old son of Time Test showed plenty of ability last season, winning on debut at Riverton on New Year’s Day before placing in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1600m) and running fourth in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2100m).

The Riverton horseman thought enough of his gelding to campaign him in Australia over winter, and while he was unplaced in his sole start across the Tasman, he took plenty of benefit from the trip.

Freddie Time has continued to impress Tyler this season, winning two races while based out of Howie Mathews’ Otaki barn, and he was rapt to see his strong finish on Saturday where he came close to pipping runaway leader Sagunto on the line.

“It was really exciting,” Tyler said. “He has really come forward a long way and he is going to go to the top, I am pretty sure about that. He has done really well for a young horse, he’s only four.”

Tyler said Freddie Time has come through the run well and he will now likely target the Listed Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts LTD Marton Cup (2200m) at Trentham on January 3.

“He had a trot and canter this (Monday) morning and he is perfect. He is eating everything and he has bounced out of it and is ready to go again,” Tyler said.

“The obvious one would be the Marton Cup. I thought about going up north for something like the Queen Elizabeth (Gr.3, 2400m, at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day), but it is coming up a bit quick with the trip away, right-handed and you never know how the track is going to play up there, it might not suit him. We will be patient, run him in the Marton Cup and go from there.”

Closer to home, Tyler finished the weekend in pleasing fashion when recording a winning double at Gore on Sunday, courtesy of Fourofus and Mamaea.

“Gore is always a nice track,” he said. “We had some nice chances going into it, so it was nice to get a couple of wins.”

Tyler is now looking forward to heading to Wingatui on Boxing Day where he will line-up a quintet of runners.

“I am going there with five high-quality horses, I am quite excited going into Friday,” he said.

Indie Ardie heads into the Property Brokers – Ray Kean R65 2200 in a purple patch of form, having won one and placed in three of her four starts this preparation, and Tyler is hoping she can extend that sequence on Friday.

“Indie Ardie is flying at the moment,” he said. “She probably should have won on both days at Cromwell.

“She has had a bit of a freshen since then, she doesn’t take a lot of work, and her gallop on Saturday morning was probably as good as I have seen. I am quite excited for her, especially getting over a bit of ground.”

Stable veteran Prince Alby will contest the Grand Casino Open 2200, with his fresh-up run readying him for next month’s Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innivation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham.

“He is really mature now and probably looks the best he has ever looked,” Tyler said. “It is a good starting point for him and all going well he will go up for the Wellington Cup.

“He is in really good order and he will go a good race. With a bit of rain about, the track is going to be off, so that should suit him, and he comes into the race really well in the weights.”

Stablemate Ripa Time will be seeking black-type when she lines-up in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m), and Tyler believes she is up to the task.

“She is a really nice filly,” he said. “I know she is still a maiden, but she has certainly got ability. If the rain comes it might slow a few down and she won’t be out of it. It is a bit of an ask for her but hopefully she can perform.”

Tyler will also be represented by last-start runner-up performers Flash Roca and Sight To See in the ODT Southern Mile Heat (1600m).

“Both of them are really good horses and rain won’t bother either of them,” he said. “They have really come forward and I can see both of them going really good races.”

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