Kelvin Tyler's break-out season continued in style at Gore yesterday, courtesy of a zippy grey gelding and a colt with a bright future.
The Riverton horseman had two impressive first-start winners at Gore although, with 600m to go, a debut win did not seem to be on the cards for Greyray in a 1335m maiden.
The son of Sunray settled in behind leader Eldante, but appeared to drop off the pace before jockey Rebecca Black urged him towards a gap on the rail in the straight.
''He's always been a bit mentally weak, but he's always shown a bit,'' Tyler said.
''I just wasn't too sure the track would be wet enough, and he needs a bit of ground, too.''
Tyler was not worried when the 4yr-old gelding dropped back to midfield.
''We don't hustle him. We just let him do his own thing.
''The last thing you want is them running over the horses in front of them.''
Tyler had not received any calls yet about the grey galloper, owned by Kevin Strong, but he said the connections could be open to selling.
Strong owned Bigglesworth, who was sold out of Sally McKay's stable to connections of Gai Waterhouse in March this year.
Tyler is even more excited by the prospects of juvenile galloper Timy Tyler, who has earned a spell after winning by 1 lengths on debut over 1200m.
''He's the gun. He is a good horse.
''He's a 2yr-old against the older horses in a maiden race so it was a pretty big effort. He'd never been to the trials at all. He's well above average.''
A tilt at the Gore, Dunedin and Southland Guineas could be in the offing for the No Excuse Needed colt next season.
''He's going to have a wee break and we'll get him ready for the 3yr-old races.''
Tyler's season tally of 13 wins is well clear of of his previous best of four, recorded in the 2009-10 season, and he credits the improvement to an increase in quality across the board.
''We're just lucky we've got good horses, really good staff, and happy horses who want to run.''
Another key factor in the stable's success this season is jockey Rebecca Black. She was aboard both Greyray and Timy Tyler yesterday, lifting her winning total to 21 this season.
Tyler said her experience was a telling factor, despite still claiming 3kg. Black rode three winners in 1994 and another four in 2003 before making a full-time return to race riding last year.
''She's pretty knowledgeable and pretty hardy.
''She's really a senior rider claiming 3kg.''
Meanwhile, Michael Pitman moved 11 wins clear of Lisa Latta on the national trainers' premiership after preparing four winners at Gore yesterday.
Stormpatrol, ridden by Amelia Denby, got home over The Dewdrop in a rating 75 1335m before Pitman produced a running treble from races five to seven with Wiseguy, I'm Maveric and Gossip Girl.
Pitman has 76 wins for the season, with Latta sitting on 65 wins. Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman are third with 57 wins.
