The five-year-old South Island trained Timy Tyler caused a boilover when winning under the guidance apprentice Jacob Lowry in this non-claimable G3 event. The footing at Riccarton was officially rated a Slow8 but was nothing like that and was much more holding plus since sand-slitting here the times posted read faster but the margins from first to last become greater. This was the Winter Cup but far from such footing and the place for genuine wet trackers sadly is shrinking by the season as tracks are cosmetically prepared (e.g. sand-slitting) rather than embracing mudders on natural soil and turf. Timy Tyler had a soft run in the first half dozen throughout and strode into second at the 200m before taking the front at the 100m. It was his fifth career win and now his second Riccarton success in the last three outings after having trouble winning here for quite a number of starts. He paid over $47 so was not liked by bettors despite having not been out of the first four in his last eight starts. Timy Tyler was the first South Island trainer winner of the G3 Winter Cup since McLaskry in 1999. The runner up Illuminati set all the pace and kicked clear early the run home before being caught and passed at the 100m to go down just over a length. Danza Lad was a good third after settling well back and then saving ground coming through one-off near the home turn then back to the fence for the closing 300m. He may well have won if the footing was wetter and more winter-like being a noted mudlark. Marotiri Miss settled down on the inside of the third finisher and she saved ground for her rider across the top before coming through one-off into fifth at the 400m. The mare reached fourth and fought well throughout to be beaten less than two lengths but was found after the race to have fractured a pastern and has since been retired. Authentic Paddy had every chance and needs it wetter while an eyecatcher late was Duffers Creek for sixth. Biologist was a brave seventh after being wide throughout and in fact was outside the eventual winner for a large portion of the race working overtime. There were many other genuine wet trackers wanting it loose too that never really yelped at all so forgive such as Our Gazza, Miss Three Stars and North And South to name a trio. The winning time of 1:40.02 was the quickest mile clocking on the day. The race prior saw a Ratings 65 (the next grade up from maidens) clock 1:41.73 or ten lengths inferior but that augurs well indeed for winner Romelo to be in that ballpark compared to a G3 clocking. The way Riccarton was today and is now since sand-slitting does put the result here into the dubious category as not a true wet track at all with an official Slow8 rating posted simply never a credible reflection. The field depth overall was also not a very strong line up at all for G3 to add more confusion and trust in the outcome.