Rugged galloper Master Marko was toughness personified at Riccarton on Saturday when he produced a front-running victory in the main race on the day, the TAB Open Mile (1600m). 

Shooting for his third win in his last four starts, the Kelvin Tyler-trained six-year-old gelding carried just 54.5kgs thanks to the 2kg claim of in-form apprentice Yogesh Atchamah. 

He had Master Marko bowling along at a steady clip from barrier rise and didn’t panic when stablemate Prince Alby loomed outside him at the 800m to inject more speed into the race. 

Master Marko shook off that challenge shortly after straightening and kept kicking against the fence to withstand a late burst from Charbano, who closed nicely from midfield, while outsider Deep Beauty snatched third off Fierce Flight. 

Tyler was delighted with the run and more importantly with the recovery his charge made after the race. 

“He was pretty strong to the line, and I think he may have even been starting to get away on them again in the last 50m,” Tyler said. 

“The plan wasn’t to be in front, but I did say to Yogesh before the race he needed to be handy as that was the pattern of the day. He rode him really well as he kept him in a good rhythm and saved enough to make sure he had a good kick in the straight. 

“You wouldn’t think he had a run this morning as he is bouncing around and has licked his bowl clean.” 

Tyler has some big decisions to make over the coming months as he has his charge entered in some of the best races on the spring calendar including the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings, along with the TAB Mile (1600m) during Cup Week at Christchurch. 

“I’m not sure if he is right up to that top level but the way he keeps improving he deserves his shot at them,” he said. 

“We’re a fair way down the list of entries in the Arrowfield ,but it can drop away a little as can the Livamol so he might sneak his way into one of them. 

“We’re taking him up to Otaki on Wednesday and we will make a base there for him, so he doesn’t have a whole heap of travelling over the next few weeks. 

“If he doesn’t make those races there are still events like the Metric Mile (Gr.3, 1600m) at Wanganui for him, so we have plenty of options ahead of us.” 

By Mapperley Stud-based stallion Contributor, Master Marko is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Miss Haydn and comes from an extended family that includes Group One winners Cannsea, Librici and Procol Harum. 

He has now won seven of his 42 starts and over $251,000 in prizemoney for Tyler and his wife Vanessa.