North Taieri's White Robe Lodge is built around long-standing relationships and Tommy Tucker fits the philosophy perfectly.
The 7yr-old was too smart for his rivals in the $25,000 Wanaka Cup at Cromwell yesterday, continuing three generations of success for co-trainers Brian and Shane Anderton and part-owner Ian Nichol.
Nichol races the horse in partnership with Brian and Lorraine Anderton, and is the third generation in his family to race horses with Anderton.
His grandfather, Arthur Reid, raced top mares Smart Mellay and Lady Mellay out of White Robe Lodge before handing on the breed to his daughter Isobel Nichol, Ian's mother.
There is plenty of White Robe Lodge blood going back through Tommy Tucker's dam side.
His dam is by the defunct White Robe sire Yamanin Vital and his third dam is the Reid-bred Lady Mellay, who was by White Robe's stallion Mellay.
Nichol has raced other horses with the Andertons, including All Chance and No Chance, but he has been waiting a while for one of Tommy Tucker's quality from his own breed.
''He's the best one out of that breed,'' Nichol said.
Continuing on the relationship theme, Brian and Lorraine Anderton's grandson Jake Lowry was in the saddle for the feature and was impressed by the gelding's finish.
''I have a bit of a opinion on him - just the way he pushed out that horse and his turn of foot was unreal,'' Lowry said.
''I think he's put his hand up and said he's got a bit of ability, and it could be a big summer for him.''
Brian Anderton said the main summer goal for Tommy Tucker was the $50,000 Timaru Cup on December 28.
Tommy Tucker was one of three winners for the Andertons and for White Robe Lodge sire Gallant Guru at Cromwell yesterday.
Gallant Boy won the rating 75 1400m for the Andertons, and Ultrasonic repaid the Andertons' decision to take their time with the gelding.
''He was a big, skinny horse last year,'' Anderton said.
''He had two unplaced starts, then he ran a third and two seconds and when he looked like he would win, I said `you've done enough, mate' and put him out.
''He's had a long preparation - he's been in work for probably 20 weeks. I didn't want to sprint him up and stir him up. We've both put a lot of work in to him.''
Ultrasonic has been on only good or dead tracks in his seven career starts, but Anderton sees no reason why the 5yr-old would not cope with some cut in the ground.
''I think he handles the wet, too. He's from that good old Lochlisten family of mine - Milly Bijou and Nom Du Jeu and Prized Gem.''
