Riverton trainers Kelvin and Aimee Tyler can’t wait to head to their home meeting on Saturday where they are hoping to get their hands on their local Cup.
“It’s always the highlight of the year running in your home Cup. Hopefully this year we can have another good one,” Kelvin Tyler said.
The father-and-daughter duo will have a two-pronged attack in the Listed Carriers Arms Hotel Riverton Cup (2147m) on Saturday, headed by Dunhill who finished fourth in last year’s running of the Southland feature.
The son of Pins was victorious in the Invercargill Gold Cup (2600m) two starts back, which cemented his trip north to compete in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Pukekohe last month.
He finished 10th in the staying feature, but Tyler said his charge had a number of factors against him.
“Things didn’t quite go his way. The horse went up there in beautiful condition, he travelled perfect, but the rain didn’t really come, he got on the fence, they just walked, and he couldn’t get going when he needed to,” Tyler said.
“He has done extra well since he has been home, I can’t fault him at all.”
Dunhill has drawn gate three on Saturday, but Tyler said he will go back from that alley.
“He over-raced last time, so he will go back and we will see what happens,” he said.
“Dunhill is going to take a fair bit of beating in the Cup. He would be the main one of ours for the meeting.”
The stable will also be represented in the race by evergreen galloper Kilowatt.
“He has been a great old campaigner of ours,” Tyler said. “He is coming to the end of it but I can’t fault him at all. Every day is the same with him, he works well and he galloped really well on Tuesday. He is always a chance that horse.”
The Tylers will once again have a strong contingent at their home meeting, which also includes a trio of juveniles in the Agri Centre South Excellency Stakes (1100m), including Radiant Reach, Lady Sass, and Aberlour.
“We have got a couple of nice two-year-olds coming through,” Tyler said.
“The Mongolian Falcon fllly (Aberlour) is a half to Tobilicious. She is going to be a really nice staying filly. She hasn’t done anything wrong.
“She will go a nice race but hasn’t quite got the speed as Lady Sass and Radiant Reach. The other two will be the main chances.”