Sensei, Our Teddy Boy resume in style as 3yrolds
SMART pair Sensei and Our Teddy Boy proved they have only got better with age by winning their first 3yrold starts at Timaru yesterday.
Both gallopers mixed it with the South Island’s best 2yrolds last season before heading to the spelling paddock.
The Steve Tylertrained Our Teddy Boy was one of only two horses — the other was Kiwi Ida — to beat star filly Prom Queen last season.
The horse ran right up to that form to win with a booming finish under apprentice Corey Campbell over 1200m in race 2.
However, despite the impressive performance, Tyler will not be aiming Our Teddy Boy at the New Zealand 2000 Guineas, though the horse is still likely to race during New Zealand Cup week.
Before then Our Teddy Boy would be set for the Wingatui meeting on Melbourne Cup day.
Tyler was anticipating a good run before yesterday’s race on the back of the horse’s impressive Wingatui jumpout win earlier this month.
This season, Our Teddy Boy had returned to racing a stronger prospect who settled better underneath his rider, he said.
Sensei gave his rivals a galloping lesson in the last 200m of race 5, a rating 65 sprint.
The Michael and Matthew Pitmantrained colt is a 2000 Guineas nominee and enhanced his chances in that race with a stylish win for rider Chris Johnson.
The Michael Dalytrained Don Carlo clinched yesterday’s feature sprint, race 4, with a gritty win in the hands of Kylie Williams.
Don Carlo fought off the challenge of outsider Volcano to win by a nose in 1min 11.3sec.
Earlier on the Timaru card, North Island jockey Samantha Collett scored her 500th riding win, aboard Lady Amadeus in race 1.
Classy 3yrold Showemup will line up at Winton tomorrow as she also progresses towards a New Zealand Cupweek target.
The Sally McKay trained 4yrold takes her next step towards the Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes at Riccarton in tomorrow’s open sprint, race 5.
Central Districts jockey Darryl Bradley, who will link with six of McKay’s ninehorse team at the meeting, will ride Showemup for the first time.
Riverton trainer Stephen BlairEdie will shoot for backtoback victories inthe Winton Cup with Come Fly With Me.
The 7yrold meets a sixhorse field including last season’s Dunedin Gold Cup winner, La Nouvelle Vague, and his former Graham and Michael Eade
Astablemate, Stoker’s Rock. The 6yrold has joined John McKay’s Gore stable after rcampaigning in the North Island.
Additional information for meetings today.—