Lady Sass's starting manners get the tick of approval
Lady Sass had to trial, with the focus on her starting manners, following her refusal to jump from the barrier in the Southland Guineas at Ascot Park on February 17.
Jamie Searle is a long-time Southland racing writer. For more of his work head to the Southland Thoroughbreds Facebook page.
Riverton trainer Kelvin Tyler was relieved to see Lady Sass leave the starting gates with her opposition in a 1000m-jumpout at Ascot Park yesterday.
Lady Sass led from start to finish in the jumpout to cement plans to nominate her for the $80,000 NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui on Saturday.
She had to trial, with the focus on her starting manners, following her refusal to jump from the barrier in the Southland Guineas at Ascot Park on February 17. The filly had to complete a satisfactory trial from the barrier, in front of a stipendiary steward, before being allowed to race again.
"She was perfect, flew the gates and led all-the-way," Kelvin Tyler said of yesterday's run.
Arranging for a barrier attendant to lift Lady Sass' tail in the starting gates was the key to her beginning well, he added.Â
"I put ear covers and side winkers on her, but the biggest difference was lifting her tail up."
Meanwhile, the horseman plans to have three starters in the Riverton Cup on March 30, spearheaded by in-form stayer Shockallia.
Prince Alby and Zambezi Zipper will be the stable's other runners in the $80,000 Cup, sponsored by Riverton-based company Kennedy Building.
Shockallia will use the Wyndham Cup at Gore on March 10 as a stepping-stone to the Riverton feature. He won and finished second in the Dunedin and Invercargill Cups, respectively, this month.
Prince Alby is unraced since finishing at the back in the Wellington Cup on January 20. He had four starts in the North Island this summer with the best placing being a second in the Marton Cup.
The Sacred Falls gelding is pencilled in to resume racing at the Beaumont meeting at Wingatui on March 17 - 13 days out from the Riverton Cup. He was ninth in the Riverton Cup last year.
Meanwhile, Tyler and his family have sold 70 per cent of the ownership in their Gore and Southland Guineas winner, Aberlour, to clients of Sydney trainer Joe Pride.
The filly will cross the Tasman by plane, from Auckland to Sydney, on March 5.
The Tylers retained shares in King Of The Castle after selling him to owners in Pride's Warwick Farm stable in late 2021. Kelvin trained King Of The Castle to win three of nine starts.
King Of The Castle has measured up in strong company in New South Wales.
