15 Jul 2022Tavilight made an overdue return to winning form when he posted an effortless victory in his first outing on the synthetic track at Riccarton.
Our home-bred has tended to mix his form, although co-trainer Matthew Pitman said that hadn’t always been the fault of the son of Tavistock.
“He’s been frustrating, but he’s got the talent and hasn’t raced with a lot of luck.”
Tavilight was given a perfect ride by Kozzi Asano and, after sitting in third spot to the turn, he lengthened stride in style to coast home over 1600 metres by an increasing 3l.
He was coming off a previous unplaced effort at Ashburton where he had a legitimate excuse.
“He got knocked over on the corner last time and finished off strongly,” said Pitman, who trains the grey four-year-old with his father Michael.
Tavilight is a son of the Keeper mare Keep Alight, who has a 100 percent record at stud with all eight of her foals to race successful.
They include Tavilight’s sister She’s Alight, who won the Listed Jungle Dawn Classic, and his brother Midnitemagicman was a multiple black-type placegetter.
Out of the dual Group 1 winner Our Tristalight, Keep Alight is a half-sister to the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Danske and the two-time Listed winner Eagle Rhythm.
Closely related to the G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Midnight Oil, Keep Alight has rising Tarzino juvenile filly named Serenade and is due to Embellish this spring.