The father and daughter training partnership of Kelvin and Aimee Tyler were to the fore at Riccarton on Saturday when they produced class performer Lightning Jack to win the Listed Daphne Bannan Memorial Great Easter Stakes (1400m).
The consistent six-year-old son of Per Incanto had been hinting his next win wasn’t far away and he chose the perfect opportunity to return to his best as he lumped 60kgs to a comprehensive two-length victory in the hands of Krishna Mudhoo.
Mudhoo had his charge trucking along nicely against the rail near the rear of the field in the early stages before picking a path to the outside of runners entering the home straight,
After balancing up, Mudhoo asked Lightning Jack for his best and the response was instantaneous as he roared home out wide to defeat fellow topweight Live Drama with The Radiant One battling well for third.
Kelvin Tyler felt his stable star deserved the win after enduring some less than stellar luck during his current campaign, including when he finished third in restricted room in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham in January.
“He is a real trier with the greatest nature so to see him win today is very special,” Tyler said.
“He’s one of those horses who goes out and gives his all every time so you can’t ask any more than that.
“He has been quite unlucky a few times, especially in the Thorndon Mile, so he got one today which was what he deserved.”
Tyler was most impressed by the way Lightning Jack burst clear in the latter stages, which augurs well for his next campaign.
“We may have made the mistake of riding him a little too handy in the past and today we let him find his feet early on,” he said.
“He savaged the line under a very big weight and that last 100m was pretty good to watch.
“We said this was going to be his last start before heading to the spelling paddock so he can go out now, eat some good grass and have a decent break.
“We’re not afraid to take on the bigger races and with some more natural maturity we think he has one of those good North Island races in him during his next prep.”
Raced by Tyler’s brother Allan and sister-in-law Marie, Lightning Jack cost just $8,000 when purchased out of co-breeder Gloria Kenny’s draft during the May Sale at Karaka in 2018.
He has now won eight of his 40 starts and over $387,000 in prizemoney. – NZ Racing Desk
