Flash Roca gets nod as top Riverton seed
Kelvin Tyler is leaning toward Flash Roca as his best chance of landing the main event on his home track card on Sunday.
The Riverton trainer will saddle half the six-horse field in the Sparrow Logging/Aparima Electrical Handicap (2147m), with Vamos and Sight To See also in contention.
“There’s not a lot between them, but I’d put Flash Roca slightly on top,” he said.
The five-year-old daughter of El Roca was runner-up at Gore last start and Tyler is hoping she can go one better on Sunday.
“It was her first time over ground and they normally improve a bit, I think she’ll go another good race,” he said.
“If I had to go for one, I’d probably go for her, but there’s not that much between them.”
Flash Roca will benefit from apprentice Sima Mxothwa’s three-kilo claim, while Sight To See will be partnered by Cooper Stumbles, who can claim the maximum four kilos.
“She goes well on a rain-affected track and will get a bit of weight relief, that always helps,” Tyler said.
The five-year-old finished fifth last time out behind stablemates Vamos and Flash Roca, and the former will be ideally suited by softer going on Sunday.
The mount of Kendra Bakker, he was unplaced last time out in the Road To Jericho (3000m) at Riccarton.
“The track was way too hard for Vamos, it was like concrete and he’ll appreciate the sting out of the track,” Tyler said.
“He seems good and hasn’t taken any harm from the run.”
Of his other runners on Sunday, Tyler liked the chances of Ripa Time in the Grant Horrell Contracting/Milnes Transport Handicap (1200m).
She broke her maiden at Wingatui when resuming last month before an unplaced outing there two starts back.
“The track was very, very deep and holding that day but she came through it well,” Tyler said.
She most recently finished sixth at Gore where she boxed on gamely after being parked three deep throughout.
“She got caught wide without any cover and the inside was probably a bit better, I think she can bounce back,” Tyler said.
Tyler will also be hoping for a top result in the North Island on Saturday, with well-performed stayer Freddie Time looking to turn his recent fortunes around in the Jennian Homes Feilding Cup (2100m) at Otaki.
Trained on course by Howie Mathews, the five-time winner and multiple stakes placegetter is raced by Tyler and his wife Vanessa.
“Howie is really happy with him, but he has been a bit disappointing to be honest,” Tyler said.
“He’s up in distance now and that will help him, it’s not a bad field and I saw him a couple of weeks ago and he looked good, and a bit of rain around won’t worry him.”
