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Tyne Cot acquitted himself well in his only appearance at the top level and trainer Neil Connors is hoping for another Group One chance with his injury-plagued galloper.
“That might be flying a bit high, but we’ll be trying,” said the Dannevirke horseman, who races the gelding with his wife Erin.
Tyne Cot won the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup on Saturday in only his ninth appearance since he finished fourth in the Gr.1 Easter Handicap in 2013.“He’s had his problems and when he’s right he’s quite good,” a reserved Connors said.
Also a winner on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay carnival, Tyne Cot jumped from the inside gate at Matamata and rider Sam Spratt made good use of the draw.“I didn’t want to be too far off them,” she said. “He settled nicely and he did everything right.”
Last-start Listed Westbury Classic winner Kindaleica set up a strong gallop and Spratt was able to angle off the fence across the top and Tyne Cot let down strongly in the straight.“I got a nice drag into the race and he won really well. When he hit the front he wanted to pull up a bit.”
Tyne Cot’s sustained finish got him home by a long head from a courageous Kindaleica with Vincent Street taking third money ahead of Noble Warrior.Meanwhile, Eletist added another string to his bow when he handled a firmer track to down Statham in the Russell & Yvonne Green Memorial.
“It was a good effort because he pulled quite hard and the pace was on,” rider Leith Innes said.“He was coming back to 1200 metres and I thought it may have been a bit short, but he really hit the line.”
Trained by Glenn Old, Eletist has fashioned a tidy record with five wins from his 10 starts.
