King of the South Marches On

Although 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, reports NZ Racing Desk. Contextually, 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. 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). Tyler will also line-up He’s Got Power in the Murray Acklin (1400m) and Dunhill in the Dean Lawrence (2200m).