Promising three-year-old Riodini (NZ) (Proisir) maintained his unbeaten record with another impressive victory at Tauranga on the weekend, with trainer Nigel Tiley set to test him in Group company at the upcoming Ellerslie Christmas Carnival.
The Proisir gelding made it two wins from two starts in his current campaign after a stylish debut performance on his home track at Pukekohe back in June where he accounted for subsequent Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) winner Sai Fah.
Put aside for a break after his two-year-old victory, a niggling injury extended his time away from the track before he commenced his three-year-old campaign with a win in rating 65 company against the older horses over 1200m at Tauranga last month.
Tiley stepped him up to 1400m against his age-group rivals on Saturday where, lumped with topweight of 58.5kgs, he cruised clear in the run home for rider Michael Coleman to register a comfortable four-length victory.
“He’s a pretty smart galloper and a tough little bugger who I think has plenty more left in him,” Tiley said.
“He settled nicely on Saturday and Michael didn’t have to do a lot on him over the closing stages to get him home.
“He’s made a nice progression from where he was as a two-year-old.
“We had him ready to go a little earlier this time in but he cut his fetlock in a tricky spot which meant we had to back off and give it time to heal naturally under no pressure.”
Tiley, who was attending his son Ben’s wedding in Rotorua on Saturday, will now set his charge for a tilt at the Gr.2 Jamieson Park Auckland Guineas (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, a race he took out with Demonetization in 2018.
“Demonetization won the equivalent race at Tauranga back in 2018 before he went on to win the Guineas so I’m hoping for the same result with this guy,” he said.
“I don’t think the mile will worry him as the best part of his race on Saturday was the way he relaxed for Michael during the running.
“He’s a pretty sensible sort and he’s learning at each start so I think he will be a good chance in a race like the Guineas, especially when a number of his potential rivals will have been to Riccarton and may not even line-up.”
Tiley was also pleased with the raceday return of high-class mare Melt who finished second over 1200m in her first start for the stable since returning from a disappointing stint in Australia.
“She hadn’t run for just on seven months and only had the one trial before Saturday so it was understandable that she just came to the end of it in the last 200m,” Tiley said.
“The track also got pretty firm and she is a mare that likes it when there is some give in the ground so I would expect her to be a big improver if she can strike those conditions at her next start. “She came through the race well so we’ll monitor her for a few days and then make a plan as to where we go next.”
