Maloney in zone for ride

JORDAN GERRANS STEPHEN Wilson in the north and Jeff Lloyd down south.

That is the usual jockey engagement that has delivered Tyzone 11 of his career 13 career victories.

But, with the soon-to-be-retired Lloyd locked in to ride Test The World for Bjorn Baker in the $125,000 Listed Keith Noud Handicap (1200m) this afternoon at Doomben, Ryan Maloney (pictured) will be the pilot of the Far North star.

Toby Edmonds, who now trains Tyzone after transferring from the Roy Chillemi yard in Tolga, admits he would have liked to continue the Lloyd association with the chestnut gelding, but says Maloney is up to the task.

Earlier this year, former Victorian jockey Maloney moved north for a fresh start in Queensland as a stable rider for Edmonds.

“Since coming up to work with us, Ryan has been going pretty good,” Edmonds said.

“Ryan rides for us anyway and he is a good choice.

“He has ridden Tyzone in work and he jumped him out last Friday.

“He knows the horse pretty well.”

The five-year-old has won three of his four first-up runs over his impressive career and punters like his chances today fresh.

“He’s currently a $4.40 second favourite in what is a reasonably open edition of the Keith Noud quality,” a Ladbrokes spokesman said.

“He has eased a little since markets opened; the main money for a race like this will come on race day.

“He’s won at Doomben before and has an excellent record over the distance so he certainly needs to be respected, and if you throw in how well he goes fresh, you have to say he is going to be hard to beat.”

Tolga master trainer Chillemi noted earlier this month that Tyzone was “always a little narrow horse but he has grown into himself” and Edmonds agrees.

“Both his trials have been super; he has spelled well and come back a bit stronger,” Edmonds said.

“He is in pretty good order and is right to go first-up. “We expect him to run well. “He is still maturing, as a late maturer, but he looks much stronger to me and we are really happy with him.”

Tyzone will jump from barrier seven and only carry 55.5kgs this afternoon in his first race start since running third at Grafton in July.