DIFFERENT REASONS FOR HAWKESBURY TRAINERS’ VICTORIES AT HOME

HAWKESBURY trainers Blake Ryan and Jack Pilkington had different reasons to be pleased with victories at their home meeting yesterday.

Ryan took the Independent Liquor Group Raceday Class 1/Maiden Plate (1600m) with a horse he originally trained before an unsuccessful Hong Kong stint, whilst Pilkington described his debutante as a “proper horse” who may give him his maiden Group 1 starter in the $1m Sires (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday week.

Ryan’s Midori Giant (pictured $3.90) made a brilliant return to local racing with a runaway victory, and Pilkington’s previously unraced two-year-old I Am Dreaming ($4 joint favorite) gave promise of good things ahead by winning the Vodka Cruiser Cup Provincial Maiden Handicap (1300m).

Ironically, both horses could have lined up in shorter races at the meeting.

Ryan won a Provincial Maiden Plate (1600m) at Kembla Grange in February 2024 with Midori Giant, a $100,000 Adelaide yearling purchase in 2022.

His owners were keen to try him in Hong Kong, and he raced eight times there without success before expatriate Sydney trainer Mark Newnham (who won last week’s Group 1 Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin) recommended he return to Australia.

“Mark felt the tracks were too hard for him, and he wasn’t getting into a position either in races there,” Ryan said.

“Midori Giant last raced in Hong Kong in June last year, and arrived back in Australia in October.

“We gave him a good spell, and he went into work with me in early January.”

Ryan nominated the five-year-old for a 1300m Class 1 Handicap, but the Class 1/ Maiden Plate fell into his lap when the race was added to the program after last Thursday’s Gosford meeting was washed out.

“The 1600m certainly suited Midori Giant, and I knew when the favorite (Emerald Hills) was off the bridle at the 500m that he was going to be right in the finish,” he said.

“He really put them away nicely to score by four lengths.

“I’m not sure the quality of the opposition, but it was a very pleasing result for all concerned to see him come back and win as he did.”

Ryan also was pleased with last weekend’s performances of stablemates Lady Extreme (fourth in the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes, 1200m at Rosehill Gardens) and Strawberry Impact (third in the Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier, 1400m at Kembla Grange).

“Terrific runs by both,” Ryan said. “Strawberry Impact goes to a 1500m Benchmark 72 Handicap at the midweek metropolitan meeting at Hawkesbury on April 8, and Lady Extreme runs in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Randwick three days later.”

Pilkington is excited by what Trapeze Artist two-year-old I Am Dreaming has ahead after his excellent debut against older and more seasoned rivals.

“He cost only $35,000 at Book 2 of the Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast last year,” he said.

“I Am Dreaming is a big horse and perhaps buyers shied away from him, but I was prepared to pay more.

“He is a proper horse and, provided he pulls up well and continues to do well, we’ll have a crack at the Group 1 Sires at Randwick on Saturday week.”

Pilkington dually accepted with the colt in the shorter CG&E Maiden Handicap (1100m), but opted for the 1300m when he was the lone emergency and secured a start.

“The map didn’t look good for him in the 1100m race, and the 1300m better suited our plan to go to the Sires,” he said.

“I Am Dreaming was able to come from behind and win (defeating fellow Hawkesbury trainer Ed Cummings’ DemmoDermy, $15 and Wyong trainer Rod Bailey’s Classic Two, $8.50).”

Pilkington said he has been patient with a number of his young horses who are now starting to strut their stuff (another debutante Alpha Zeta ran third after being wide throughout in the F&M Maiden Handicap, 1100m at $12).

“We’re not just a one-horse stable,” he said, a reference to his dual city winner Alabama State, who went for a spell after scoring at Randwick in late January.

“I saw him yesterday and he looks fantastic,” Pilkington said.  

“He can have a few more weeks out before we bring him back.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MARCH 26, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS