Speedy North Island visitor Illicit Dreams proved too fleet of foot for her two-year-old rivals when she took out the Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton.
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).
Riccarton trainer Meg Cunneen is hoping to break new ground on two counts this week: securing her first stakes win on her home track and winning her first race on the all-weather surface.
Nightmare travel logistics have forced Kelvin Tyler to abandon Gr.1 Queensland Oaks plans with high-class filly She's A Con but that hasn't stopped him from preparing a strong team of six to travel to Riccarton for feature racing on Saturday.
Southland dairy farmer Allan Tyler is used to his brother Kelvin making headlines in racing, however, on Saturday at Riccarton it was time to grab his own share of the limelight.
Alby MacGrego and jockey Jacob Lowry and warhorse Times Ticking proved once again that Riccarton is their happy hunting ground when they combined to win the feature race of the day, the Gr.3 Coca Cola Canterbury Gold Cup.
