Pleasure and relief as horse wins without a hitch

"The instruction was not to lead, but there were no other leaders in the race and drawing one, he's a very strong horse, he just took off."

The Tui Toiler (Gosen Jogoo) wins from The Growler (Kavish Chowdhoory) at Riverton on Monday. Photo: Jamie Searle.

• Jamie Searle is a long-time racing writer. For more of his content, head to the Southland Thoroughbred Facebook page.

The Tui Toiler made a successful return to racing with a bold front-running display at Riverton on Monday.

It brought pleasure and relief to Birchwood trainer Stephen Blair-Edie to see the gelding complete the race without a hitch.

Blair-Edie didn't want The Tui Toiler to lead in the Donald White Hedge Cutting Highway Stakes.

"The instruction was not to lead, but there were no other leaders in the race and drawing one, he's a very strong horse, he just took off," Blair-Edie said.

Trainer Stephen Blair-Edie, left, and one of The Tui Toiler's owners, Murray Dowling, after a post-race trophy presentation on Monday. Photo: Jamie Searle.

The Tui Toiler had been away from racing for a month after running off in a race at Gore on March 12. Stewards that day stood him down from racing until he trialled two times satisfactorily.

At Gore it was the third time The Tui Toiler had proved difficult to steer or run off during a race.

With no trials in Southland or Otago, Blair-Edie was forced to make two trips to Canterbury in the hope of gaining a clearance for the gelding to resume racing. One trial was in Christchurch, the other at Ashburton.

He got the tick of approval both times.

The Tui Toiler was mindful of other horses being close to him in races, Blair-Edie said.

He compared it to a person driving a car.  

"It's like driving a car in the dark and someone's right up your date [behind you], you get nervous, anxious ... horses are no different."

Jockey Gosen Jogoo after winning on The Tui Toiler at Riverton on Monday. Photo: Jamie Searle.

Jockey Gosen Jogoo said The Tui Toiler settled in front and did things right, from start to finish, on Monday.

"At the 600m he kicked a bit [with acceleration] when the other horses tried to come close to him ... and I thought, 'oh yeah, I can win this'."

"[In the straight] he kicked the last bit when another horse came at him."

The Tui Toiler is owned in Tuatapere.

Blair-Edie said: "The Tui Toiler syndicate are all very hard-working friends of mine."

Trainer Stephen Blair-Edie speaks at the trophy presentation following The Tui Toiler's win at Riverton on Monday. Alongside him are owners of The Tui Toiler and Riverton Racing Club officials. Photo: Jamie Searle.