HAWKESBURY trainer Blake Ryan gets the chance to clinch a farewell victory with his “special horse” Momack today.
The seven-year-old’s owners have decided to run the gelding one more time at Ryan’s home track meeting before he goes up for sale online through Inglis Digital on Wednesday.
Apprentice Jett Stanley, who rode the opening race winner at Rosehill Gardens yesterday, has again been engaged to lessen the gelding’s 61.5kg topweight by 2kg in the Martin Collins Polytrack Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1300m).
“Momack has been a very special horse to me,” Ryan said.
“He was my first city winner (in a Midway Handicap at Rosehill Gardens in May last year) and also my first stakes runner and placegetter when narrowly beaten by Kirwan’s Lane in the Listed Ladies Day Cup (1600m) at Hawkesbury last November.
“The owners have put a reserve price on him, and he is very sound and rock-hard fit.
“There are still further wins in him, especially if he is purchased to go either to Queensland or South Australia.”
Stanley’s claim means Momack will meet his last start September 21 conqueror, fellow Hawkesbury trainers Phil and Tara Vigouroux’s Zoulogist, on 3kg better terms.
“The weight turnaround gives him a great chance of going out on a winning note for us,” Ryan said.
Three withdrawals from Momack’s race has resulted in only seven horses starting.
Whereas Momack has been given the green light to run, Ryan has scratched stablemate Midori Giant from today’s opener, the Sky Racing Maiden Handicap (1600m).
Instead, he will go to Newcastle on Tuesday for a similar race, with Jay Ford his rider.
The Maurice three-year-old, who made his debut at Kembla Grange on September 23, will race in visors and also have a barrier extension.
“Midori Giant is a massive horse with ability, but at the same time a work in progress,” Ryan said.
Along with his training role, the skilled Hawkesbury horseman also is preparing 19 “babies” for the Inglis Ready2Race sale at the Riverside complex on Tuesday.
“The two-year-olds have settled in well at Warwick Farm,” Ryan said. “It’s as many as I have had to get ready for the annual sale.”
. She boasts a Group 1 placing – but is yet to win a race!
However, Pier Pressure’s Newcastle trainer Kris Lees believes that situation can be rectified when the three-year-old filly lines up at Hawkesbury today.
Lees opted to bypass a $500,000 feature at Rosehill Gardens yesterday to give her the chance to shed her maiden status.
Instead of taking on her own age in the second running of the set weights plus penalties Tapp-Craig (1400m), Pier Pressure has a much easier assignment in the Bendigo Bank Maiden Plate over the same distance, and restricted to NSW provincial-trained horses.
Kerrin McEvoy, who was booked to ride the filly at Rosehill, partners her at Hawkesbury.
He has ridden four winners already at the track in the early part of the season; only one behind Jason Collett, who is not participating on Sunday.
Press Statement filly Pier Pressure, as a $151 outsider, gave her connections a huge thrill when a brave third to recent Group 1 Golden Rose winner Militarize in the Group 1 Sires (1400m) at Royal Randwick in April.
That was only her third start and she has now had two runs this time in, finishing fifth (beaten less than two lengths) in an 1100m Maiden Plate at Hawkesbury on September 7 before a third in a Super Maiden (1200m) at Warwick Farm 13 days later.
“Pier Pressure drew the outside at Rosehill, whereas it’s the exact opposite at Hawkesbury,” Lees said.
“She has taken improvement from both runs back, and should get every chance to break through from the inside barrier.”
Pier Pressure is the first foal of the Pierro mare Perissa, who went to the races only three times and won a Bathurst Maiden (1208m) in August 2019.
Lees also starts newcomer Detoron (Zac Lloyd) in the same race as Pier Pressure.
“Detoron had five starts in Victoria for a placing over 1100m at Wangaratta last December,” he said.
“She hasn’t been with us long and her work has been okay, but I doubt she can beat the stablemate.”
The rail is 2m out from 1100m to 450m, and in the TRUE position for the remainder of the circuit.
Course manager Kyle Cassim this morning posted a “Good 4” rating. Seven races are scheduled, with the opener at 1.35pm and closer at 5.14pm.
*Story John Curtis, October 8, 2023 - Pics Gettys*
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