RYAN KEEN TO “TEST” QUEEN REGENT IN MELBOURNE

BLAKE Ryan is keen to test Queen Regent for a Melbourne Cup carnival feature at Flemington when she races there on Saturday.

The Hawkesbury trainer sent the lightly-raced three-year-old filly to Melbourne overnight to contest the Group 3 Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m).

Jason Collett will ride Queen Regent, who at $151 sprung a boilover in the Listed Woodlands Stakes (1100m) at the Scone Cup carnival in May at only her second start.

She resumed at Rosehill Gardens on August 15, and had to cope with an outside draw when 11th to Chilly Girl in the Listed Rosebud (1100m).

“Queen Regent has come on particularly well since the Rosebud,” Ryan said today.

“I’m really happy with her.

“I did think about running her against her own age and sex in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) – won by Bangkok Hottie – at Randwick last Saturday, but it was always going to be a very strong race.

“The trip to Melbourne will tell us where we are at with Queen Regent.

“If she runs well, she will go back for Melbourne Cup week at Flemington to have a crack at the $300,000 Group 3 Red Roses Stakes at the Oaks meeting on November 5.

It’s the same straight 1100m as Saturday, and against her own age and sex at set weights plus penalties.

“Saturday’s race will be a real test against some good fillies, such as Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Streisand and a number of Group 3 and Listed winners.

“Some of Queen Regent’s owners are from Victoria, so they will get the chance to see her race.”

Two provincial trainers – Hawkesbury’s Garry Frazer (Spright in 2016) and Newcastle’s Kris Lees (Onemorezeta in 2014) – have won the Red Roses in the last 12 years.

Ryan will fly to Melbourne tomorrow night to saddle Queen Regent, but she isn’t his first runner there.

The now retired mare Etheridge contested a 3000m Benchmark 72 Handicap at Sandown in February 2022.

Whilst Queen Regent lines up at Flemington on Saturday, stablemate Green Winter goes back to Kembla Grange, the scene of his debut victory for his new trainer, the same day.

Jeff Penza rides the four-year-old, who took a Midway Maiden Plate (1400m) there on August 8 at his second career start, but first for Ryan.

“Green Winter won nicely at Kembla Grange, but was a bit flat next time a fortnight later when fifth over 1600m at Newcastle,” Ryan said.

“He comes back to 1400m for the Provincial Class 1 Handicap.”

Fellow Hawkesbury trainer Ed O’Rourke could have started Power Broker at the Kensington track yesterday, but chose to wait for his home track meeting today.

It proved a smart decision with the now three-year-old, but high-priced yearling.

Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Power Broker ($2.20 favorite) trailed the $51 leader Audacity to the home turn, and the impressive part about his victory in the Group One Thoroughbreds Provincial Maiden Handicap (1500m) was how he powered clear over the closing stages to score by nearly two and a half lengths.

RacingNSW stewards later questioned McEvoy about his riding tactics.

He said he wasn’t given any specific instructions, and after the colt began well, he allowed him to take up a prominent position.

Power Broker, a son of Dundeel, fetched $750,000 at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale, and at only his second start led home a Hawkesbury trifecta.

Marc Chevalier’s Navy Slippers ($15) was second, and Fabio Martino’s Commanche Chief ($2.30) was third.

Zac Lloyd took the riding honors, landing a treble with favorites Philatelic ($2.25), Lady Of The Castle ($3.30) and Concrete Storm ($1.75).

One of the trio was the other provincial winner, Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle’s Lady Of The Castle, was impressive in bursting home in the Blakes Marine Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m) to post the second victory of her eight-start career. STORY BY JOHN CURTIS, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026. PIC BRADLEY PHOTOS.