Nigel Tiley is hoping to see a deserved maiden success for Vila Belmiro (Santos) as he lines up a warm-favourite for the TAB 1100 at Ellerslie on Wednesday.
A son of Santos, Vila Belmiro made his debut as a juvenile in the Listed Challenge Stakes (1100m), but was not seen raceday for the following 15 months as his Pukekohe trainer allowed him to mature.
“I thought he was going to be a natural two-year-old, but he just went through a big growing stage and went shin-sore after his first start,” Tiley said.
“When we brought him back into work he wasn’t really putting on any condition, he was just growing, so we thought we’d give him a decent break and bring him back later on as a three-year-old.”
Vila Belmiro’s trio of placed efforts since resuming have included a third to promising type Hat Trick (NZ) (Fastnet Rock), and another third last start when caught in the final bounds as the odds-on favourite.
“I think he was probably a victim of the fence last start, I felt that maybe at that stage of the day, the rail wasn’t the place to be,” Tiley said.
“He probably got left a bit of a sitting duck after making his run too early and got left out in front too far from home.
“I’d like to think we can just hold him up a bit longer on Wednesday.”
To be partnered by regular hoop Sam Spratt, Vila Belmiro is currently a $1.65 favourite with TAB bookmakers.
Tiley has downsized his team in recent years to spend his winters in Queensland, indicating himself and wife Lee will head on their annual stay next month.
“At this stage we’re just keeping a very small team, we’ve only got two in work at the moment, so we’ll be heading off to Queensland early in May and we’ll make decisions when we get back,” he said.
“At this stage, we’re just happy to potter around with a couple of horses.”
