Kelvin Tyler has enjoyed plenty of success through ex-North Island gallopers, and he is hoping that continues at Wingatui today.
Tyler has recorded 11 wins in the 2014 calendar year, and eight have come from gallopers who began their career with North Island trainers - Saragarhi, Keep The Courage, Indy Ruler, Areuforreel (two wins) Assassin (two wins), and Google Me.
That trend is evident today through Holy Affair (race 8) and Sir Amron (race 10), while Sir Jack Remington (race 10) is having just his second start for Tyler's Riverton-based stable after 15 starts for Byerley Park trainer Shaun Clotworthy.
Holy Affair and Sir Amron both began their careers with Lee Somervell, who has reduced his team after the death of his private owner, Ada Parnwell, in June.
The pair are both by the sire Civics, who stands at Cambridge Thoroughbred Lodge where Somervell is based.
''He had to cut back on his numbers, so he chucked a couple our way,'' Tyler said.
Holy Affair, who is in the rating 65 1400m, is the one to have impressed Tyler the most so far during the 5yr-old's two months in Southland.
''He's come up quite nicely - he's working really well and looks good, so I think he'll go a good race,'' he said.
The one question mark could be around the firm track, with Wingatui rated as good3 yesterday afternoon. Holy Affair has placed just twice on good or dead tracks from 11 attempts.
''The thing is our horses work down here in the wet and it's so tough to go up and get on the better tracks, but I think he will handle it.
''It's a starting point for us, really, to give us a guide where he's at. He'll probably step up to a mile after this, but he's certainly well enough to run a good 1400.''
Sir Amron will tackle the metric mile against rating 75 rivals, although Tyler expects the 6yr-old to be looking for more ground at the finish.
''He's a nice, big staying horse fresh-up over a mile so he'll improve with the run. Once he gets up over a mile and a-quarter, he'll be quite handy, actually, but he's pretty forward.''
His stablemate, Sir Jack Remington, is also in the rating 75 mile, and Tyler will ask jockey Lee Callaway to try something different from barrier 5 after a weak eighth at Wingatui on September 27.
''He went pretty average that day, but we're going to ride him a bit different.
''We're teaching him to settle in his work and drop back, so we're going to try and pull him back and see if he runs on.''
Tyler expects Life's In A Spin (race 9) to put in a better fresh-up effort than his 13th at Gore in September 2013, while Paddyblack (race 3) is finally up to 2200m which should suit him after chasing sprinters and milers at Riccarton and Winton.
''They just went a bit quick for him at Riccarton. I think the 2200m will suit him so he'll be a big chance.''
Tyler expects another honest effort from Revenge in race 3, although he is worried the track might be too firm for the Brilliance gelding.
