Tyler worth following again on home track

[Wandering Eyes]

Kelvin Tyler celebrated a quartet of winners on his home track 12 months ago and he will have numbers on his side for another successful New Year’s Day meeting.

The Riverton trainer will be strongly represented throughout the card, including King Of The Castle (NZ) (Castledale), Master Marko (NZ) (Contributer) and Go Lotte (NZ) (Telperion) in the main event, the Pankhurst Sawmilling/Waiau Valley Shearing Handicap (1600m).

“I would really like to see King Of The Castle bounce back to what he can do, he looks really well,” Tyler said.

“At the weights, he comes into it best (55.5kg) and Master Marko has got a bit (60kg) and Go Lotte (53kg) probably isn’t racing as good as she should be.”

The nine-year-old produced an encouraging effort last time out when fourth in the Tapanui Cup (1335m) and the step up in distance on Thursday will be more to his liking.

“He is looking for more ground now, it’s taken him a bit to get over that fall he had at Riccarton, but I can’t fault him now and the rest is up to him,” Tyler said.

Master Marko has been racing consistently and is expected to give another good sight while Go Lotte will need to improve significantly after a string of under par efforts.

Tyler will also have three representatives in the Carriers Arms Hotel Summer Cup (2147m) and the Riverton Racing Club Memorial (1200m).

In the former, he nominated Indie Ardie (NZ) (Ardrossan) as his best chance and a fresh Go Thea (NZ) (Tivaci) as the pick of his trio in the latter event.

“Indie Ardie is going great races at the moment without a lot of luck, she should be a very good chance,” Tyler said.

“I’ve also got a few three-year-olds in, but most of them are inexperienced so my best would be Go Thea. She’s resuming and has got a bit of form behind her.”

The Tivaci filly hasn’t raced since she finished runner-up at Gore last September.

One of Tyler’s four winners at the fixture a year ago was Freddie Time (NZ) (Time Test), who will continue his successful North Island sojourn at Trentham on Saturday when he runs in the Listed Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts Ltd Marton Cup (2200m).

He was a winner over ground two runs back at Otaki before he produced a sterling effort to finish a close runner-up in the Gr.3 Manawatu Cup (2300m).

“He couldn’t have got much closer, it only looked like half a nose he was beaten but that’s the way it goes sometimes,” Tyler said.

“I’ve been talking with Howie and Lorraine (Mathews) and they said he came through that race very well and they’re doing a great job with him.

“He should be another good chance and we’re just taking it race by race. He’s only a four-year-old so as soon as he looks like he needs a wee break then we’ll give him one.”

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