GREEN WINTER KEEPS RYAN’S HOME FIRES BURNING

BLAKE Ryan’s “experimental trip” to Melbourne didn’t pan out, but Green Winter kept the home fires burning at Kembla Grange yesterday.

The Hawkesbury horseman took Scone carnival Listed winner Queen Regent to Flemington for the Group 3 Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) at set weights plus penalties against her own age and sex to test her for a possible return trip there for a feature for three-year-old fillies at the Melbourne Cup carnival in November.

She finished 11th as an $81 outsider to talented Sydney filly Satono Glow ($7), but there was better news just around the corner.

Forty minutes later to be exact when Queen Regent’s stablemate Green Winter scored at Kembla Grange at $21 in the Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1400m) to make it two wins from three starts since joining Ryan’s team.

After experienced jockey Jeff Penza took things into his own hands by scooting around the field soon after the jump to take up the running, Green Winter valiantly defied his rivals.

He defeated fellow Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup’s $1.90 favorite Anthropoid and Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker’s Broadway Street ($4.20).

Ryan trains for Hong Kong-based Magus Equine Limited, and bought Green Winter, a son of Overshare, for $32,500 at the 2024 Magic Millions yearling sale in Adelaide.

“I was at the sale, and Magus asked me to have a look at him,” he said today.

“He wasn’t a dear yearling, and went to Annabel and Rob Archibald at Warwick Farm.

“He trialled twice last year (sixth at Rosehill Gardens in October and seventh at Royal Randwick in December), and came to me.”

Ryan skilfully prepared the now four-year-old for a first-up victory in a 1400m Midway Maiden Plate at Kembla Grange on August 8, and put his hand up for the gelding’s defeat (fifth of six in a Newcastle Provincial Class 1 Handicap, 1600m) a fortnight later.

“I wasn’t planning on running him so quickly after his first run back, but there were only four entries for the Newcastle race, and I nominated when they were extended.

“In retrospect I made a mistake backing him up and stepping up to 1600m second-up.

“Going back to the scene of the crime at Kembla Grange yesterday and reverting to 1400m was much more suitable.

“I wasn’t surprised he ran as well as he did, but was surprised at his starting price.”

Ryan, meanwhile, will give Queen Regent a good spell.

“We had to have a go at Flemington to see where we sat with the filly,” he said.

“She struck a pretty good field and wasn’t disgraced, but showed she isn’t up to the top fillies at present.

“Queen Regent didn’t have a long break after winning the Woodlands Stakes (1100m) at Scone, so I will give her a decent spell now, and get her back and have a crack at a Midway in town next preparation.” STORY BY JOHN CURTIS, SEPTEMBER 13, 2026. PIC BRADLEY PHOTOS.