Timy out to top up cup cash

Winter Cup giant killer Timy Tyler returns to Riccarton on Saturday but this time he is no roughie.

An upset winner at $47 on the tote and $61 on fixed odds, Timy Tyler gave his trainer Kelvin Tyler his biggest thrill in racing when he ran over the field to win the $100,000 Group III race last Saturday.

The Riverton trainer has been carefully spacing the talented galloper’s races in preparation for the Winter Cup, but because he has pulled up so well, Tyler will back him up in today’s $40,000 Winter Classic on the final day of the Grand National carnival.

Tyler said there will be some doubts around the seven day backup, but he hopes his charge will handle it.

‘‘He’s been bouncing around, he’s actually come through it even better than I thought but I guess there is a bit of a question mark there,’’ he said.

The 5-year-old son of No Excuse Needed is now fashioning a more than handy record with 5 wins from 29 starts for more than $136,000 in stakes.

Tyler is not fazed by the step up in distance to 1800m in the Winter Classic.

‘‘I actually think he could be looking for a bit more ground,’’ Tyler said.

But he does have concerns about the extra 3kg he will carry this week after his rating lifted to 93 points. He only carried 54.5kg in the Winter Cup but steps up to 57.5kg this week.

‘‘It will be interesting to see how he handles that,’’ Tyler said.

Timy Tyler will again have the services of talented young apprentice Jacob Lowry who piloted him to the Winter Cup win. Lowry is every chance of finding a cosy sit from barrier three.

Cambridge galloper Biologist is a $6 favourite for the Winter Classic. He meets Timy Tyler 3.5 kgs better in the weights than in the Winter Cup. Our Gazza is second favourite at $7.