The Riverton trainer's stable star, Timy Tyler, produced a $47 upset when he won the Winter Cup at the start of August, and his preparation for the $250,000 group 2 Coupland's Mile next month starts at Riccarton tomorrow.
The 5yr-old failed at Riccarton a week after his Winter Cup success so Tyler opted to give the gelding a spell.
''He had a month off after the Winter Cup meeting, and he's come back as good as I can get him,'' Tyler said.
''Saturday is just a good hit-out for him. It will top him up nicely with the trip away and the 1400m up there.''
Tyler knows the spring will bring out the best horses, especially with thoroughbreds such as Addictive Habit, Allez Eagle and Scapolo among the nominations for the $230,000 feature on November 11.
''It's a different class of horse now, and on top of the ground,'' he said.
''But he deserves his chance and he runs well on top of the ground. He ran second in the Gore Guineas on top of the ground. Dead4 and dead5 tracks are probably what I reckon his best track. He's not a mudder.''
Timy Tyler will start tomorrow's 1400m open handicap - dubbed the Coupland's Bakeries Mile Trial - one barrier in from the outside in the nine-horse field, although that does not concern Tyler too much.
''We'll let him find his feet and if he's getting home nicely at the finish - if it's good enough to get first or third or fourth - I'll be happy.''
Tyler has opted to stick with apprentice Jake Lowry, who rode a precise race to get Timy Tyler home in the Winter Cup.
''I'm a loyal fellow so I'll stick with the ship and he knows him so well.
''I'm pleased to have Jake on.''
Tyler was pleased to see Zah Keisha shed her maiden status at Wingatui yesterday.
The daughter of Roc de Cambes swept up past her seven rivals in the final 200m of the 2200m maiden to win with plenty in handy for Tyler's apprentice, Kevin Kalychurun.
''She's been wanting 2000m for a while now but there haven't been any 2000m races around,'' Tyler said.
''She's been working really good and I thought she was my best chance at Winton last week, but she went shocking. She got parked wide and didn't get a rest, but today she got it right.''
