Fifth Timaru Cup win
White Robe Lodge trainer Brian Anderton took the Timaru Cup for the fifth time as a trainer when Tommy Tucker won the $50,000 listed 1600m event in track record time and provided his sire, Gallant Guru, with another stakes winner at Washdyke on Monday (28/12/2015). Anderton won the race in 1986 with Random Chance when it was at weight-for-age and in 1992 with A Gordon For Me. Random Chance was ridden by Shane Anderton, who joined his father in a training partnership in 1993, the father and son have since won the Timaru Cup, now a handicap, with All Chance (1998), Burton (2002) and now Tommy Tucker. Anderton and his wife, Lorraine share the ownership of Tommy Tucker with Ian Nichol, of Outram. Nichol and his wife, Sue raced All Chance. Tommy Tucker was bred by Ian with Brian and Lorraine. Tommy Tucker was ridden by 17-year-old stable apprentice Jacob Lowry, who won the Winter Cup on Timy Tyler in August. Tommy Tucker is a true WRL product being being Gallant Guru from Lady Vital, by Yamanin Vital from Noble Mell, by Noble Bijou from Lady Mellay, by Mellay. Brian trained Lady Mellay to win 10 races for Arthur Reid or his estate. Arthur was Ian's grandfather. Lady Mellay (ex Smartly) won five of her eight starts at two. She won the Irwell Handicap by eight lengths and the Pioneer Handicap by nine lengths three days later at the 1969 NZ Cup meeting. Brian rode Lady Mellay in the Pioneer. Lady Mellay did not race at three when troubled by a splint. She won the Oamaru Winter Cup (1600m) at five. Her sister, Smart Mellay won 12 races when trained by Brian. She won the Hazlett Stakes (1200m) at Wingatui as a 3yr-old in 1971 and open 2000m handicaps at Riccarton and Omakau at the same age. Brian, then in his early days a trainer, was given horses to prepare by Arthur Reid after weaning foals for him.