Tough being a thoroughbred trainer. Just ask all round horseman Gerald Ryan. The workaholic had one of those mornings this week.
Having played a major role at the Sydney autumn carnival Ryan is now eyeing off the Brisbane version and Saturday’s BTC Cup at Doomben is next on the radar.
Ryan’s Lightning Stakes winner and last start Galaxy runner-up Snitzerland was eyeing off another group 1 victory and stablemate Hot Snitzel was going to be a rival.
But racing’s ugly side beared its fangs on the morning prior to the Doomben feature.
“Snitzerland pulled up sore this morning,” a matter-of-fact Ryan said on Friday.
Ryan knows, like his counterparts, horses going amiss are a daily occurrence. It doesn’t make the phone call to connections any easier but it wasn’t all bad.
“She is off to the paddock but she’ll be back,” Ryan said.
So Ryan’s double barrel assault on the BTC Cup is down to one and while Horse Of The Year contender Buffering and northern pair Temple Of Boom and Spirit Of Boom are talk horses Hot Snitzel is in the zone.
“He has done well up here and looks good,” the Rosehill based Ryan said.
“He is in the best form of his career and I expect him to run well. It has all been about management with this horse, not over taxing him.
“He is a good honest little horse who tries his guts out all the time.”
Pity about Hot Snitzel’s efforts on the training tracks.
“He doesn’t work as quick as what you’d want, he is not a good trackworker,” Ryan said.
“It may well be he saves it all for race day and I’m confident he’ll keep them busy tomorrow (Saturday).
“Buffering is a multiple group 1 winner, he is on his own dung hill, you’ve got the ‘Boom horses’ but I’m sure Hot Snitzel will keep them busy.”
Ryan’s Brisbane winter carnival assault is already reaping dividends. Dances On Stars and Dothraki won at the Gold Coast festival and don’t forget Time For War.
The juvenile contests the Champagne Classic at Doomben on Saturday and is out to continue Ryan’s amazing run with two-year-olds this season.
“I think we’ve won 16 two-year-olds races with 11 individual winners,” Ryan said.
“I’m surprised this horse is at such big odds, there is nothing wrong with his form.”
A winner of his first two starts Time For War goes into the Classic following a fourth in the group 1 Sires Produce Stakes at Randwick.
“He found the front the other day but there looks to be a lot of speed in this one,” the astute one said.
“He won’t lead tomorrow (Saturday), we’ll give him a chance to take a sit, and I know he’ll find the line.
“He came up here earlier in the week and hasn’t missed a beat.
By Craig Young
