Kelvin Tyler is preparing to escape the Southland cold this winter for the warmer climes of Queensland.

The Riverton trainer said a lack of racing opportunities over winter in the south has forced his hand and he will head across the Tasman for at least three months with a small team.

“We are going to take half a dozen over there and we are just trying to sort that out at the moment,” said Tyler, who trains in partnership with his daughter Aimee.

“We will go over for three months at this stage. We will head over at the end of April or early May.

“We will work it as a bit of a holiday. I am looking forward to it.”

While Tyler is looking forward to spending some time in Queensland, he said the campaign has been forced by a lack of racing opportunities in the south over winter.

“There are only seven race meetings in June and July in the South Island for the winter horses, so we have got no choice but to look elsewhere,” he said.

Tyler is taking a realistic mindset with him, but he hasn’t ruled out a tilt at some of the bigger races over the Queensland Winter Carnival with some of his team.

“I will probaby take Master Marko, Prince Alby, He’s Got Power, Tobilicious, Dunhill, and we are working out the sixth one to see who deserves a holiday in the sun,” Tyler said.

“I think Prince Alby is quite capable of winning some of those better three-year-old races, but we have just got to find our feet and see where we are.

“We will start down the bottom somewhere and work our way up. We realise it’s not going to be easy over there, but we will give it a go.”

Tyler admitted to feeling a bit disheartened by the racing calendar and that reflected in his activity at New Zealand Bloodstock’s recent National Yearling Sale.

“I only bought one horse at the sales,” he said. “They have given us a bit of a shove down here in the South Island, so it is hardly worth my while running around all day and night racing horses up and down the country when we have been given the squeeze and race for no money down here.

“They are taking races off us down here for the winter, so what option do I have?

“We will still have a few horses racing over the winter time in Southland, so we will see what happens.”

Meanwhile, Tyler is looking forward to heading to Wingatui on Monday with eight runners.

He will contest the meeting’s feature, the R.M.G. Publican’s Cup (1600m), with So Much Mour and he is hoping the gelding will appreciate the step up to a mile.

“They just went a bit too quick for him last time,” Tyler said.

“We thought we would put him up to a mile. He’s just a runner’s chance.”

Of Tyler’s other runners, he highlighted Classic Diva in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1600m) as his best chance.

“I thought Classic Diva went a really good race last start,” he said.

“She is the better chance of my team on Monday. She will be looking for a bit more give in the track it looks like they have.”

After more than three years as a star of the South Island’s country cups, under-rated stayer Kilowatt stepped up to stakes class for a career-best victory in Saturday’s Listed Alleviate Administration Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) at Wingatui.

Originally trained by Jacob McKay at Matamata, the son of Shocking relocated to the Riverton stable of Kelvin and Aimee Tyler in 2017. His 10 victories since then include the Summer Cup (1600m), Gore Cup (1800m), Tapanui Cup (2000m) and two editions of the Wyndham Cup (2000m), along with a placing in the Listed Riverton Cup (2147m) in 2019.

On Saturday he claimed his biggest cup yet. Ridden by Brandon May, the eight-year-old sat at the back of the field before advancing out wide as the field made its way down the side of the track.

Kilowatt kept on coming, moving up to third turning for home and striding clear down the straight. The +1330 outsider drew clear for an emphatic two-length win over Riviera Rock and Asathought.

“That was a really good effort today,” Kelvin Tyler said. “He’s been a good horse for our stable for a number of years now. He started out up north, but he came down to us when he was a lightly raced four-year-old. He’s done a great job for us since then and has won a good cup race every year. He deserved this one.

“He hasn’t had much luck in his last few runs in this preparation – he got flattened in his last start, just when he was trying to improve. But we put blinkers on today and stepped him up to 2400 metres, and that seemed to suit him really well. It was a big performance.

“We’ll probably look at the Invercargill Gold Cup (2600m) in a couple of weeks for his next start. He’s developed into a bit of a grinding stayer, so the extra distance of that race should be an advantage.”

Kilowatt handed a first New Zealand black-type victory for South African-born jockey May, who has ridden eight winners since arriving on our shores in mid-2020.

“He’s done a bit of riding for me now and is a good senior jockey who rides well,” Tyler said. “He did the job perfectly for us today.”

Kilowatt’s Cup heroics headlined a successful day for the Tyler team, who also won the Nellies Bar and Restaurant (2200m) with another son of Shocking, No Quarter Asked, while He’s Got Power was runner-up in the Group 3 White Robe Lodge (1600m) and Master Marko finished third at big odds in the Listed Positive Signs Dunedin Guineas (1500m).

“We can’t complain at all about the day we’ve had – it’s been really good,” Tyler said. “No Quarter Asked had a bit of weight off with Savish Khetoo’s claim and appreciated a bit of give in the track, and that was a very strong win. It was great to see our maiden run a big race for third in the Guineas, we think he goes pretty well.”

Leading Southland trainers Kelvin and Aimee Tyler are looking forward to racing at Ascot Park on Sunday where they will have a strong contingent of runners.

The father and daughter partnership will have 13 runners on Sunday, led by a three-pronged attack in the Commercial Hotel Winton & Country Jewel Winton Cup (1400m).

Nine-win gelding Kilowatt will be first-up in the meeting’s feature race, where he will carry 59kg with the assistance of apprentice jockey Sanu Toolooa’s three-kilogram claim.

“He is terrific,” Kelvin Tyler said. “He hasn’t raced in a while but he is as good as he has ever been. He has got a bit of weight to lug around.

“I really can’t fault the horse, he has come up better than he ever has ever come up.

“He always goes well fresh too and he seems to like the track and at this stage the track looks like it is going to be quite nice to race on. I am sure he will go a good race.”

Heading deeper into spring and summer racing Tyler said the son of Shocking will likely follow the Country Cups circuit.

“He goes quite well in those Country Cups, so we will target them again,” he said.

Stablemate He’s Got Power will be looking to recapture some form in the Winton Cup and Tyler believes he can after making plenty of improvement from his last start run over 1200m at Gore.

“He likes Invercargill too,” Tyler said. “It was a bit short for him last time, but he has really improved, and he wouldn’t be without a chance.

He is going to come into the race quite well with a bit of weight off his back.”

The stable will also be represented in the race by So Much Mour, who won nicely at Wingatui two starts back.

“He probably wants it a little bit wetter than what he is going to get there,” Tyler said.

“He is a good runner’s chance. He has raced well there before, but we are running out of options with some of these horses, so we have just got to run them.”

Of Tyler’s other 10 runners, he highlighted Classic Diva in the O’Meara Crutching & Travellers Rest Tavern 65 1400 and King Of The Castle in the Washrite & AB Lime & H.E.N Batt & Son 74 1600 as two of his better chances.

“We have got a couple of young horses that are going quite well,” he said.

“Classic Diva is going to appreciate a bit of give in the track and over a bit more ground she will be a good chance.

“King Of The Castle is another one that I quite like, he should go a good race, up to a mile and on a better track.”

While there are still a couple of months to go this season, Kelvin Tyler has already comfortably retained his crown as Southland’s top trainer.

The Riverton horseman, who trains in partnership with his daughter Aimee, has amassed 46 wins to date this season, surpassing his previous best of 39 victories in the 2018/19 term.

The Tylers are just four wins shy of leading South Island trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman, and while racing in the deep south is taking a winter hiatus, they are intent on chasing down their northern rivals.

“I couldn’t be happier with the way the season has gone,” Kelvin Tyler said. “Racing has pretty much stopped in Southland, so our closest race meeting is now three hours away. We now have to do a bit of travelling, but that is the way it is.”

They will make the three-hour trip to their winter home meeting at Wingatui on Friday where they will line-up a handful of runners, including Our Boy Ritchie, who is shooting for his fourth consecutive win.

The five-year-old gelding has been in red-hot form of late and was rewarded with his first stakes victory last month in the Listed Riverton Cup (2147m), a highlight for his trainers this season.

“Winning the Riverton Cup was a big highlight, it’s pretty special winning your home cup,” Tyler said.

While pleased with his gelding heading into Friday’s meeting, his 62kg impost is a big concern.

“I can’t fault him, but he has got a tonne of weight, that’s his biggest problem,” Tyler said. “62 kilos on a rating 83 horse – no wonder why horses go to Australia.”

Our Boy Ritchie will get some weight relief with two kilogram claiming apprentice Rohan Mudhoo aboard, however, Tyler said he could be in line to head across the Tasman shortly to join former stablemate Dr Velocious.

“We sent Dr Velocious over to Australia to Rachael Frost a couple of weeks ago and he might be the next one going,” Tyler said.

Another stable runner that is currently on a hot streak is So Much Mour.

The Azamour gelding has won both of his starts this preparation and Tyler believes he is capable of a third in the Marion Stevenson (1200m).

“He has really thrived this time in,” he said. “With the track, the wetter the better for him. He will be another good chance down in the bottom of the weights.”

Tyler will also line-up He’s Got Power in the Murray Acklin (1400m) and Dunhill in the Dean Lawrence (2200m).

He’s Got Power was unplaced in the Listed Great Easter Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton last start, but Tyler said he has overcome a foot issue that had been hampering him earlier this month.

“He was just getting over a foot problem in that last start,” he said. “He seems to be over that now. He is another that has a tonne of weight (61kg) to lug around, but he seems well.”

Last start winner Dunhill has continued to impress Tyler and he believes the three-year-old is one to keep an eye on in the future.

“Since he has been here I can’t fault him, he just gets better and better,” Tyler said. “He is the only three-year-old against the older horses in that (rating) 65 2200m, but I think he is going to be a really handy horse going forward.”

Tyler won’t be trackside at Wingatui on Friday, instead he will be in the more temperate climate of Bay of Plenty celebrating a milestone birthday with his father.

“My Dad is 80 on Saturday, so we are going up to Mt Maunganui for his birthday. That will be a great occasion, I am looking forward to that,” Tyler said.

Tyler is also looking forward to the racing future of King Of The Castle, a four-year-old gelding he races in partnership with his parents.

The son of Castledale won his maiden at Riverton earlier this month after finishing runner-up on debut, and Tyler is animated about his prospects next season.

“I really like King Of The Castle, he is a serious racehorse,” Tyler said. “It’s great having a nice one for my parents.”

Riverton trainers Kelvin and Aimee Tyler reinforced their dominance of Southland racing with a five-timer at their home meeting on Thursday, including two quinellas.

Their victories came courtesy of King Of The Castle, So Much Mour, Pinhead, Zambezi Zipper, and their old favourite Flying Sardine.

The father-and-daughter team were duly delighted with the day’s results.

“That was great yesterday,” Kelvin Tyler said. “The track was to their liking. It was a relief to see them all perform well.

“It might not have been the strongest race card, but all you can do is win, and all of them won quite well.”

Of the five victories, Tyler said the wins by Flying Sardine and King Of The Castle were particularly sentimental.

“Flying Sardine is a wee sweetheart,” he said. “Every day is the same for her, she just loves what she is doing.

“Weight is going to be the big problem for her now. I thought about the Wairio Cup (2000m) next week possibly with her. We will just see how she goes, we might give her a wee freshen-up after next week because racing pretty much finishes down south from next Sunday.”

Tyler also enjoyed getting success for his parents who share in the ownership of King Of The Castle, who now boasts a placing and a win from his two races to date.

“King Of The Castle is a really exciting horse,” he said. “I race him with my Mum and Dad, so that was quite exciting for them. It was a big thrill.

“He is going to have a freshen now to mature a bit, he is a light-framed horse. We will get him back in the early spring.”

While it was exciting to get the five wins, there was no rest for Tyler who made his way up to Christchurch with He’s Got Power and Our Boy Ritchie ahead of racing at Riccarton on Saturday.

“They travelled up really good, they are happy as. I couldn’t be happier with the pair of them,” Tyler said.

He’s Got Power has drawn the ace marble in the Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes (1400m) where he will be ridden by Courtney Barnes.

Tyler is happy with the draw, but said the Power gelding will need to be at his best to feature on Saturday.

“He is going to be up against it,” Tyler said. “He has got a good draw, which is going to help him, but he pulled a shoe about six weeks ago and stood on his toe clip and it has been hindering him for a bit. He has got over that now.

“It is not a bad field so he will have to be at his best to be competitive. He seems to be as good as he has been, and I think the track (Dead4) will suit him. He doesn’t want it too heavy.”

Stablemate Our Boy Ritchie will be looking for his third consecutive victory in the Angus Meats Great Autumn Handicap (2500m).

The five-year-old gelding recorded his maiden stakes victory in the Listed Riverton Cup (2147m) last month and Tyler is hoping for a repeat performance this weekend.

“I think 2500m will be right up his alley, I am just hoping the track is not going to be too firm. I had a look this morning and it has got a bit of give in it,” Tyler said.

“He seems to be going well and I can’t fault his work.”

A tilt at the Group 1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie next month is on the line for City Slicker at Wingatui on Saturday.

The five-year-old mare is slated for a late nomination for the feature two-mile race, however, she will need to perform well in the Listed Nellies Restaurant And Bar Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) on Saturday to warrant the late payment.

The daughter of Shocking has won two of her last three starts and Kelvin Tyler, who trains in partnership with his daughter Aimee, said the Good3 track conditions didn’t suit his mare last start in the Waikouaiti Cup (2200m) where she finished 12th.

“The track was way too hard, so hopefully they have put some water on this time because that’s not acceptable to race on,” he said. “I know it is summertime, but we want a little bit of give in the tracks. “I have put concussion plates on this time, but hopefully there is a bit more give in the ground.”

City Slicker has drawn barrier eight and Tyler is happy with that marble. “It will be a good draw for us,” he said. “She got on the fence last time which is a no go for her. This time we will be keeping away from the fence hopefully and giving her some clear air. She is a big striding horse and needs a bit of room to get going.”

The Auckland Cup is still in the plans for City Slicker, but Tyler is looking for a solid performance this weekend in order to carry on down that path. “It is still on the cards for her, but she has to perform this week,” he said.

Two races later Tyler will have a two-pronged attack in the Group 3 White Robe Lodge Weight For Age (1600m) with last start winners Kilowatt and He’s Got Power.

“Kilowatt is back in distance because I feel he’s not a real true stayer,” Tyler said. “He has probably got too much brilliance to be a stayer. He won’t be without a chance at all, he is a pretty good horse.

“He’s Got Power, there’s no race for him in the next five weeks so I thought we would roll the dice and give him a chance. I can’t fault his work since his last win, he is worthy of a run.”

Tyler will also line-up a couple of other last start winners, including debut victor Pinhead in the Steven Anderton Memorial (1200m), and Ringadingding in the Wally O’Hearn 2200m.

“It was a good run by Pinhead that day, but it was his home track and it was a wet track, which he probably prefers,” Tyler said. “He is a little bit unknown on top of the ground and away from home. He is working as well as he has been, so hopefully he can do it again.

“Ringadingding has really improved since her last start. I can’t really fault her at the moment, I think she will be a very good chance.”

Meanwhile, Tyler has welcomed home northern campaigners Tobilicious and Dr Velocious after their unplaced runs in the Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) and Group 3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham last Saturday.

“They had a big trip home and arrived on Tuesday night,” he said. “They both look really well. Tobilicious will just have a bit of time in the paddock and Dr Velocious will go to the Invercargill Gold Cup. He has come through his race really well.”

Riverton trainers Kelvin and Aimee Tyler hold a strong hand heading into their home meeting on New Year’s Day, highlighted by a three-pronged attack in the Carriers Arms Hotel Summer Cup (2147m).

They will be represented by seven-win gelding Kilowatt, Dr Velocious, and Rosie Glow in the Riverton feature and they believe they are all in with a winning chance. “We have got three really good chances and I can’t really split them,” Kelvin Tyler said.

“They are all working well and have a bit of weight off their back, are on their home track, and they don’t mind a bit of rain. “I couldn’t be happier with the three of them.”

Kilowatt has placed in three of his four starts this preparation and will benefit from apprentice jockey Meghann Gestain’s four-kilogram claim on Friday, bringing his allotted weight down to 56kg. “The weight has just been stopping him really,” Tyler said. “We have put a four-kilo claimer on him this time to get him down to the mid-fifties. “It’s quite a strong field, but the horse is pretty well. He is a horse that likes to go forward, so four should be a good draw for him.”

Dr Velocious and Rosie Glow will also benefit from weight relief through the claims of apprentice jockeys Yong Chew and Rohan Mudhoo respectively. “Dr Velocious is coming up really well and he will have a bit of weight relief as well, which will be handy to have, especially if rain comes. I am really happy with him.”

Meanwhile, Tyler has rated Fill Ya Boots in the Western Electrical (1200m), Ying Resolute in the Farmlands Otautau & Andrew Tough Plumbing (2147m), and He’s Got Power in the Torresdale Suffolk Stud & Mennies Mini Dog (1600m) as his stable’s other big hopes for the day.

“Fill Ya Boots is really well, he is another one that has been caught with a bit of weight (59.5kg), but he seems to be handling it quite well,” Tyler said. “Ying Resolute deserves to win soon, and He’s Got Power is another one that is close to winning as well.”

While many people will be bandying around a few choice F words over the lockdown period, there are two that are helping Southland trainer Kelvin Tyler get through it – family and farming. The Riverton horseman is a proud family man. He trains in partnership with his daughter Aimee and works closely with his sons Jason and Michael who run the family’s 500 acre dairy farm.

While working with family can have its moments, Tyler said he is lucky to be surrounded by his loved ones at times like this. “It is pretty testing at times, but I am pretty lucky,” Tyler admitted. “Most other farmers don’t have their children interested in farming, but I am lucky I have got two sons who are keen on farming. “Aimee pushed me to get my trainer’s license in the earlier years. She loves being involved, it has been unbelievable really. We are a pretty close family. “We are all in it together and it works out nicely most of the time.”

Tyler was forced to turn out his 20-strong team a fortnight ago when the country entered Covid-19 level 4 restrictions, and while disappointed he said there has been a silver-lining. “We had close to 20 horses ready to race at the time. We were just gearing up for our local Riverton meeting,” he said. “But I am quite enjoying the break. I’m just doing a few jobs around the place and it’s been good. “It’s business as usual at the farm, nothing much has changed there. It’s a good outlet to have, to get out on the farm and do things out there.”

Tyler has been a lifelong farmer and he said he is grateful to have his farm in such a trying time. “I have been farming all of my life and I have always thought it has been the backbone (of the New Zealand economy) along with tourism,” he said. “I am pretty thankful I have got that going at the moment. “We milk about 550 cows on 500 acres. It has been propping up the racing account for the last few years. Without it I couldn’t do what I have been doing with racing. Dairy farming has certainly been good to me.”

Being such a tight-knit family, Tyler said it has been a tough last couple of weeks not being able to spend time with his grandchildren and he hopes other Kiwis are keeping to their social bubbles. “I go out to the farm and I can’t even give my grandkids a cuddle. You have got to do everything properly, which we certainly are,” he said. “Hopefully everybody is getting onboard so we can get out of this and get back to normal as soon as possible.”

Reflecting on the season to date, Tyler said there were many highlights and he was pleased with the stable’s 32-win tally, including two stakes victories courtesy of Lightning Jack. “We have had a great season with a lot of highlights,” he said. “Jason and Michael are both involved in the horse (He’s Got Power) who went up to the Karaka Million (3YO Classic, 1600m). “Obviously that trip was great, but that last trip up to Wellington, with the Oaks (Feel The Rush finishing third) and Wellington Guineas (Lightning Jack finishing third), that was probably the highlight of the season.”

While the Covid-19 pandemic has cast a cloud of uncertainty over what racing will look like in the future, Tyler said it is important for racing to continue in Southland. “Hopefully we don’t get left behind down in the bottom of the South Island and they don’t expect us to travel to Christchurch, which is eight hours away, to race for $10,000. That is my biggest fear. “There are a lot of horses down at the bottom of the South Island, you can see our fields stacked up really strong, we always have big fields and horses on the ballot. “Hopefully we don’t get left behind over the next six months.”

Father and daughter training duo, Kelvin and Aimee Tyler, are experiencing a standout season and they hope that will continue at Ascot Park on Saturday. The Riverton trainers currently sit in fifth position on the New Zealand Trainers’ Premiership with 30 wins, and with many of their team appreciating more give in the ground they are looking to improve on that mark later in the season. “It’s been really good,” Kelvin Tyler said. “We were fourth, but we haven’t raced for a while. We are probably looking more for a wet track with a few of them. We just need a bit of rain relief.”

Like many farmers around the country, the Tyler team are looking for rain, but the forecast downpour on Sunday won’t come soon enough for their team at Ascot Park on Saturday. The Tylers have 10 horses competing at the Southland meeting, including three in the Listed ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas (1600m). Their trio of Guineas contenders will be led by last start Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) winner Lightning Jack who has been installed as a $2.70 favourite for Saturday’s feature.

Kelvin Tyler was pleased with his winning effort last month and is looking forward to stepping up the gelding to the mile. “We knew he had tonnes of ability,” he said. “The tight-turning track was the biggest question, but he handled it well. “I can’t fault him, I am really happy with him.”

The son of Per Incanto has only tackled 1600m on two occasions, the Group 3 War Decree Stakes and Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, where he finished unplaced. However, Tyler said he has developed a lot since then and believes the mile distance is an ideal distance for the gelding. “He just needed a bit of time. There is not a lot to him, that’s why we didn’t go to Dunedin last start. “We just thought we would target the first one (Guineas) down here, and the last one. That has really suited him I think. “They (previous mile starts) have been against some pretty good fields, but a mile will suit him down to the ground, he will probably be looking for 2000m pretty soon. “He has settled quite well in his races, so a mile won’t be a problem at all.”

While pleased with his runner, Tyler does have some concerns with Lightning Jack drawing the outside gate in the 11 horse field. “From the outside gate he will probably have to go back a bit,” Tyler said. “I don’t like hunting them out too much. Hopefully he can get a nice run. “The Invercargill track sometimes has a front-runners bias, so he’ll probably need a bit of luck, but I couldn’t be happier with the horse.”

The Tylers will also line-up He’s Got Power and Kitty Power in the Southland Guineas. Tyler has been pleased with the way He’s Got Power has settled back home after his recent trip north to tackle the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie. The gelding finished unplaced, but Tyler was happy enough with the run on the firm surface. “All of his form has been on wet tracks,” he said. “I know they have been irrigating, but he needs a wet track. “I can’t fault the horse, he came back from Auckland 100 percent. He’s got a good draw (1) and he likes to go forward, so he will be up there somewhere. “A mile won’t bother him at all, just the firm track might trip him up, but we will give him a chance.”

Tyler is more reserved about his expectations with three-year-old filly Kitty Power. “She is probably just a runners chance,” he said. “She tries hard, but she is not a champion. She has got a nice draw (5) and she likes to go forward.”

Meanwhile, Tyler is also looking forward to watching Killowat tackle the Baillee and Lewis Pharmacy Invercargill Gold Cup (2600m) and Tobilicious line-up in the Castledale @ Te Runga Summer Cup (1600m).

Killowat has had five starts this preparation for a win and three placings, and Tyler said he can be forgiven for his last-start unplaced run in the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m). “He actually stumbled a bit before the crossing and he never really got back into his rhythm,” he said. “Weight just killed him last time, that was his biggest problem. He is not a big horse, he will carry 57kg on Saturday. I know it is still enough for him to carry, but he seems to have come through that race really well, so hopefully he can get back on track. “He seems to be a different horse this week. He has drawn the outside too (11), but I am really happy with him.”

Tobilicious will take a strong form line into the Summer Cup, having won three of his last four starts. “Tobilicious will be a good chance,” Tyler said. “He has got blinkers on. He’s a bit wayward and I think blinkers will help him. “He just got caught with that frontrunners bias at Wingatui last start. They were just kicking off the front and the back runners had no hope there. “He has come through his race really well.”

An impulse buy after experiencing the magic of Karaka Million night has given the Tyler family a chance of a fairytale result at Ellerslie on Saturday. Brothers Jason and Michael Tyler hit on the idea of buying a yearling at the Karaka sales that could give them a runner in a million-dollar race after they held Michael’s stag do at the meeting in 2018.

A few days later they secured a Peter Setchell-bred Power-Keepereel colt from the Book 3 session of the sale out of the draft of Seaton Park and sent him south to their dad Kelvin to train at Riverton. “They thought it would be nice to have a runner and took the plunge on a $10,000 budget,” Kelvin Tyler said. “They bought this wee fella and it’s a decision that has turned into gold. But I’ve been quick to warn them it won’t ever happen again.”

Named He’s Got Power, the colt made a slow start to his career, only beating one horse home in his first three starts before landing his maiden win at his fourth start. He went winless in his next six starts but last month he claimed a Rating 65 win at Riverton and has since added wins at Invercargill and Wingatui. “It was a really good field at Wingatui on Boxing Day and for a three-year-old to be winning a Rating 72 in such a tidy field, that’s what convinced us he was ready to come up,” said Tyler, who trains in partnership with his daughter Aimee.

“He’s thrived since too. He seems to have gone to a new level. He’s as good as he’s ever been and he’s travelled up better than expected too. A bit of rain would have helped us as would a better draw but the horse himself couldn’t be any better.”

A winner of four races, all on slow tracks, He’s Got Power is a $126 outsider in the TAB’s final field market for the Karaka Million 3YO Classic, but that hardly diminishes the thrill for the ownership group of Jason Tyler and his wife Laura, Michael Tyler and his wife Emma, and the brothers’ mum Avalon Todd.

He’s Got Power has been stabled with Pukekohe trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy since arriving in the north and has the services of jockey Lisa Allpress, whose first task will be securing an economical run from barrier 12. “He’s just a horse who has needed time. It’s really only the last six months he’s come to it. He was just average up till then,” Tyler said.

“We tested him in good company in the spring but they were just too fast for him. But we’ve put blinkers on and he’s really improved. If we could run in the first five, we’d be over the moon. “But just to have a runner in a million-dollar race is a win for us. It was really a no-brainer to come and give him his shot.”