Horse given away for free wins Invercargill Gold Cup

How about this for a story? A horse given away for free, which hasn't won a race in 19 months, claims the 2023 Invercargill Gold Cup.

Vanessa and Kelvin Tyler with their Invercargill Gold Cup winner Dunhill at Ascot Park today.

• Jamie Searle is a long-time racing writer. For more of his work on thoroughbred racing check out the Southland Thoroughbreds Facebook page

Invercargill Gold Cup winner Dunhill was a giveaway to Riverton trainer Kelvin Tyler nearly two years ago.

Dunhill romped home by five lengths in today's $50,000 Cup, sponsored by Baillie & Lewis Pharmacy, and was one of three winners on the card for Waikato jockey Jasmine Fawcett.

The Cup success was Dunhill's fourth career win and lifted his earnings to $123,758 in 38 starts.

Dunhill's former trainer, Cambridge horseman Stephen Marsh, finished with him after his 10th in a maiden race at Pukekohe in March, 2021.

"[Bloodstock expert] Marcus Corban rang me up and said Stephen Marsh had just sacked the horse but said he's a big rangy horse, just needs a chance and a bit of time," Tyler, who trains in partnership with daughter Aimee, said..

"So, I had a look at his [race] replays and thought, he'd suit me. I got him down."

 Tyler, who owns Dunill with wife Vanessa, was given the horse at no cost.

Within the first four months of training Dunhill Tyler won three races with him However, the third win was the last for a while. The wait ended today - 19 months later. 

His third win was a 13-length victory on a heavy track at Oamaru in July 2021.

Dunhill's easy win over 2600 metres in today's Cup has made Tyler think seriously about taking the gelding to Wellington for the $80,000 New Zealand St Leger (2600m) on March 18.

The $65,000 Riverton Cup on April 8 is also on Dunhill's radar. He ran fourth in it last year.  

Dunhill was in the team Tyler campaigned in Queensland last winter. Dunhill developed bruised heels in Queensland and it took a long time for them to come right.

"I think we're on top of it now."

Muscle problems also affected Dunhill in Queensland,.Tyler suspects Dunhill missed his roomy Riverton paddock and was not suited to the smaller space.he had in Queensland.

"He likes to be in a paddock."