John O’Shea looks to have unearthed another smart prospect in Tyreek, who overcame inexperience to win on debut at Canterbury. Named after American football star Tyreek Hill, the three-year-old gelding made a striking first impression in the TAB Handicap (1200m), despite giving away race fitness and early ground.
“Good horses often show something first-up, and he’s done that. He’s still got a lot to learn but did enough to win,” O’Shea said. “He wasn’t flashy as a yearling, but you could see the athleticism, and now he’s proving it on the track.”
Ridden by Dylan Gibbons, Tyreek ($5) was slow out of the gates but settled back in the field before surging late to defeat Burma Star ($4) by a narrow margin. Burma Star, with Group form from the Canonbury Stakes and a strong Warwick Farm run, added depth to the form.
Gibbons was impressed with the win and likened Tyreek’s performance to his NFL namesake. “He missed the start, and I was a bit worried. But in the end, it helped because it made him chase, and once he got going, he really hit the line,” he said. “He’s fast and talented.”
Meanwhile, Chris Waller’s four-year-old Island Dream continued her progression with a strong second-up win in the Keenland September Yearling Sale Handicap (1550m). Waller believes she has black-type potential and is looking ahead to a possible stakes campaign in the autumn.
“We tested her last prep in a Listed race, and it’s great to see she’s come back stronger,” Waller said. “She’s one we’ll continue to develop and target something like the Aspiration or Epona Stakes next season.”
Both Tyreek and Island Dream are shaping as horses to follow, and punters can get behind their campaigns with top odds and promotions available on our full list of Australian betting sites.