Talented Wingatui 3yr-old Our Teddy Boy has the chance to turn around his recent fortunes at Gore today.
The Steve Tyler-trained galloper meets an even rating 65 field he would have at his mercy if the best Our Teddy Boy shows up.
But it was the worst version of the horse on display at Reefton when he dropped rider Corey Campbell after a wild bucking display. Tyler put the incident down as a one-off and the result of an unsuitable girth being applied to the horse.
Before that race, Our Teddy Boy raced poorly at Wingatui in December and was later found to be suffering from a virus.
The gelding had to jump out of the starting gates with rider Corey Campbell in front of stewards after the last race at Wingatui on Thursday to be allowed back to the races.
Tyler is hoping his charge gets his season back on track today.
He is wary the horse does not have match fitness on his side.
''He got his ticket good as gold. Corey said he felt huge. He did have a good blow after that so he might just need the run [today].''
Tyler is hoping Campbell is able to give his horse an economical trip from barrier 10.
''He has got a very bad draw so we are electing to ride him cold and do nothing on him and hope he can stretch out down the straight. We are not there to knock him around.''
If the horse is able to overcome today's draw and show he is back to his best Tyler will consider a tilt at the Southland Guineas.
The stiffest opposition today may come from a Guineas runner from last year.
Little Miss ran fifth behind last year's winner, Residential, and kicks off a new campaign with the aid of Rahul Beeharry's 4kg claim.
Despite having to carry 59kg, topweight Our Charlie drops in nicely after running third in rating 75 company in his previous start at Gore.
