After more than three years as a star of the New Zealand South Island's country cups, under-rated stayer Kilowatt stepped up to stakes class for a career-best victory in Saturday's Listed Alleviate Administration Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) at Wingatui.
Originally trained by Jacob McKay at Matamata, the son of Shocking relocated to the Riverton stable of Kelvin and Aimee Tyler in 2017. His 10 victories since then include the Summer Cup (1600m), Gore Cup (1800m), Tapanui Cup (2000m) and two editions of the Wyndham Cup (2000m), along with a placing in the Listed Riverton Cup (2147m) in 2019.
On Saturday he claimed his biggest cup yet. Ridden by Brandon May, the eight-year-old sat at the back of the field before advancing out wide as the field made its way down the side of the track.
Kilowatt kept on coming, moving up to third turning for home and striding clear down the straight. The +1330 outsider drew clear for an emphatic two-length win over Riviera Rock and Asathought.
“That was a really good effort today,” Kelvin Tyler said. “He's been a good horse for our stable for a number of years now. He started out up north, but he came down to us when he was a lightly raced four-year-old. He's done a great job for us since then and has won a good cup race every year. He deserved this one.
“He hasn't had much luck in his last few runs in this preparation – he got flattened in his last start, just when he was trying to improve. But we put blinkers on today and stepped him up to 2400 metres, and that seemed to suit him really well. It was a big performance.
“We'll probably look at the Invercargill Gold Cup (2600m) in a couple of weeks for his next start. He's developed into a bit of a grinding stayer, so the extra distance of that race should be an advantage.”
Kilowatt handed a first New Zealand black-type victory for South African-born jockey May, who has ridden eight winners since arriving on our shores in mid-2020.
“He's done a bit of riding for me now and is a good senior jockey who rides well,” Tyler said. “He did the job perfectly for us today.”
Kilowatt's Cup heroics headlined a successful day for the Tyler team, who also won the Nellies Bar and Restaurant (2200m) with another son of Shocking, No Quarter Asked, while He's Got Power was runner-up in the Group 3 White Robe Lodge (1600m) and Master Marko finished third at big odds in the Listed Positive Signs Dunedin Guineas (1500m).
“We can't complain at all about the day we've had – it's been really good,” Tyler said. “No Quarter Asked had a bit of weight off with Savish Khetoo's claim and appreciated a bit of give in the track, and that was a very strong win. It was great to see our maiden run a big race for third in the Guineas, we think he goes pretty well.”