Nine years after his first taste of success in one of the South Island’s most time-honoured races, Riverton trainer Kelvin Tyler will return to Riccarton on Saturday with three live chances for another win in the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 127th Winter Cup (1600m).
Tyler won the Winter Cup in 2015 with Timy Tyler, who he bought for just $3000 as a yearling at Karaka and ended up earning more than $300,000 from a 107-start, nine-win career.
Tyler’s contingent in this year’s Winter Cup is headed by another bargain buy, Master Marko, who was picked up for a mere $700 from Gavelhouse.com in May of 2020. The son of Contributer has had 39 starts for five wins, 14 placings and $195,427 in stakes for Tyler, who shares ownership with his wife Vanessa.
Stakes-placed in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) as a three-year-old in early 2022, Master Marko subsequently had a two-year stint in Queensland that produced four wins.
Master Marko rejoined Tyler’s Riverton stable after signing off his Australian tenure at Doomben in April, and he has wasted no time in announcing his return to New Zealand racing.
Master Marko resumed with an eye-catching second over 1400m at Ashburton on July 4, then thrust himself into Winter Cup contention with a remarkable win in the Oamaru Cup (1600m) on July 21. Despite an energy-sapping wide run, the gelding swooped to the front at the home turn and bounded away to win by six and a half lengths.
That dominant performance prompted Tyler to pay the $2,300 late-nomination fee for Saturday’s Winter Cup, and the TAB rates him a $7 second favourite for Saturday’s $110,000 showpiece. The six-year-old will be ridden by Leah Hemi.
“Everything’s gone really well with him since Oamaru,” Tyler said. “I can’t fault him. He’s looking great in this preparation and has had a flawless build-up so far. It looks a nice race for him on Saturday, getting in with only 53kg, and he’s drawn well in gate two.
“My only concern would be the track conditions – I hope it’s not bottomless. Oamaru was officially a Heavy10 last time, but it had a bit of a bottom to it and was almost more like a Heavy8. It’s likely to be a bit more testing on Saturday, so I hope he can get through it okay. But it is what it is. There’s some things you can’t control in racing.”
Stablemates Go Lotte and Albatross both bring super-consistent form lines into the Winter Cup. Go Lotte has recorded four thirds and a fourth from her last five starts, while Albatross has had two wins and five placings from her last seven.
“They’re both really consistent and have been racing well lately,” Tyler said. “Albatross won’t mind it heavy, while Go Lotte is probably more like Marko and doesn’t want it quite so deep.
“I can’t fault any of them leading into the race, so now we’ve just got to hope for a bit of luck.”
Tyler’s other runner at Riccarton on Saturday is Classic Diva in the Winter Fashions Here 10 August Rating 75 (1400m).
“She’s ticking along alright and should be a nice runner’s chance on Saturday,” Tyler said.