Gerald Ryan is not one to dwell on the thoroughbred downside. The one time jockey and all round horseman knows hard work is the only way to achieve success.
“It has been a bit quiet,” Ryan said on Friday as the Rosehill stable put the finishing touches on a couple of runners for Randwick’s Kensington track on Saturday.
“Melbourne could have been real good if things had gone our way.”
Ryan was referring to quality sprinters Snitzerland and Hot Snitzel finishing second in a couple of feature races at the spring carnival.
But not to worry for Ryan knows things can change quickly in the racing game. As long as there are horses in stable you’ve got a ticket in the billion dollar lottery.
“We’re trying to rebuild at the moment and there are some nice horses in the stable,” Ryan said.
“You don’t know until you try them, they all champions until you race them.”
Take Taya which will be joined on the Randwick bound float by another improver in Martinvast.
The lightly raced Emirates Park home bred set a class record when steaming home to win at Goulburn last time round. It was win number two from 13 outings.
“She has to have things run to suit, has to have speed on up front, she can reel off some good sectionals,” Ryan said.
“She has always shown the ability probably just strengthened up a bit.
“I thought she would have won in town by this but that is how it goes.
“She is improving, she will eventually win a black type race when things fall into place for her.
“If they go along quick up front tomorrow she’ll go good, she’ll hit the line strong.”
Martinvast is a five-year-old that has been taken along slowly. The Hurricane Run gelding has only been to the races on 17 occasions and managed to win four times.
“He is tickling along really good,” Ryan said.
“Hopefully third-up from a spell he is not looking for further than 1800m.
“His two runs back this time in have been very good, last start at Goulburn, he was up on the pace and beaten just on two lengths, I thought he went really good.
“He is a good each-way chance tomorrow.”
Ryan’s unraced filly Otsanda was also an acceptor for the eight race card. She was to have lined up against debut winner Occitan which is out to provide Peter Snowden’s mighty Darley Stud team with a fifth straight two-year-old winner in town on a Saturday.
“I probably wont run Otsanda,” Ryan said.
“She is in a fillies maiden on Wednesday, she is better suited there instead of running against the colts tomorrow.
“She is gradually improving, probably be better next time round and she needs the top of the ground.”
By Craig Young
