Trainer Gerald Ryan has no regrets about missing the major sprint races during the winter carnival despite Dances On Stars barnstorming victory at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Ryan claimed his second Listed Prime Minister’s Cup when Dances On Stars powered home down the centre of the track to down Final Crescendo by one length in the 1300-metre sprint.
Benny’s Buttons who looked the winner at the top of the straight finished third, a further half length away.
Ryan won his first Prime Minister’s Cup with My Duke in 2000 when the race was run over 2400 metres.
“That’s two Prime Minister’s Cups and both were ridden by Michael Cahill,” Ryan said.
Ryan plans to give Dances On Stars one more run in the BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben on May 17 before a well deserved break.
“He’s been in work since October and had his first-up run in January so he’s due for a spell,” Ryan said.
“I deliberately didn’t put him in the bigger sprints for that reason but we might be back in the summer.
“I think the Summer Series in Brisbane including the Bernborough Handicap would be ideal.
“He’s been to the top level before and we found he was just a bit below them.”
Ryan was never concerned when Cahill had only three runners behind him when he made his move at the top of the straight.
“That’s the way to ride him,” he said.
“The day he won the Carrington in Sydney he was still last at the 200 metres.”
Ryan also was never worried when rain tumbled down on the Gold Coast on Friday.
“The wet track didn’t bother me that much,” he said.
“He ran second to Sizzling on a heavy track in the Ken Russell Classic two years ago and he also ran third to Sizzling on a heavy track in the Sires’ Produce that year,” he said.
– Racing Queensland
