Kelvin Tyler’s mare Albatross continued her purple patch of form at Oamaru on Sunday, scoring a decisive victory in the Thomas Green (1600m) to open Gore Racing Club’s meeting.
The daughter of Sacred Falls had been successful in the heavy track conditions at Wingatui a fortnight ago, and reuniting with winning rider Denby-Rose Tait who claimed three kilograms, she looked a strong hope to go back-to-back.
Jumping the second-favourite ($3.10) behind Sacred Dream ($2.10) in a compact field of five, Albatross was away positively and took up her position outside leader Powerful Moss as they rolled along the back stretch.
Turning for home, Tait pressed the button on Albatross and she strode to the lead with ease, powering clear of the field in the closing stages to claim the Rating 79 contest by three-quarters of a length to Vague.
Riverton-based Tyler had been wary of the improved Soft 5 track for the six-year-old, but a positive game-plan in the running ensured she was on the front foot.
“It was a small field and quite a winnable race for her, but my concern had been the better track,” he said.
“Coming back to a mile on a better track, I wanted Denby to put the pressure on at the 800 and make it a grind home, not a sprint home.
“She’s ridden her really well and has been on her a few times, so she knows what she’s capable of.
“She (Albatross) has won nicely, she had a few issues over the last wee while, and since we’ve sorted that out, she’s been running well and is going really well at the moment.
“There are some nice races coming up for her and we’ll probably have to come back to 1400 being out of that grade now, so we’ll keep her fresh and look for the right tracks for her.”
Bred by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Albatross has won six of her 28 race-day starts and over $85,000 in stakes earnings for an ownership group which includes her trainer.
Tyler had watched Sunday’s race from the North Island, where his in-form galloper Master Marko may have earned himself a place in next Saturday’s Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) at Hastings.
Master Marko had won back-to-back contests at Riccarton Park earlier in his preparation, and continued that form with a solid performance into third behind Jay Bee Gee in the Gr.3 Metric Mile (1600m) at Wanganui on Saturday.
“He ran well yesterday, he really struggled in the deep track,” Tyler said.
“We’re hoping he’ll get into the Group One next week at Hastings, he’ll definitely go there if he does because he’s come through it well and ate his dinner last night.
“There’s forecasted to be a bit of rain around during the week, so hopefully we’ll be able to catch it.”