HAWKESBURY trainer Blake Ryan was philosophical about his two narrow defeats with favorites at Gosford at the final meeting of the calendar year last Sunday.
“It could have been worse,” Ryan said, referring to debutante Santasia being caught in the closing stages by another debutante, Wyong trainer Damien Lane’s Dize, in the Midway 3YO Maiden Plate (1000m), and Lady Extreme later also being edged out by fellow Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup’s Treasurer in the Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1100m).
“Lack of race experience with Santasia and a wide barrier with Lady Extreme cost us.
“I’ve kept Santasia in work, and she will get the chance to atone either at Wyong on January 18 or Kembla Grange two days later.
“Lady Extreme had no luck at all from her outside barrier in the field of 10, and never gave up.
“However, I might give her a break now.
“She went shinsore after a jumpout the first time in work, and then this time had two trials and then two runs.
“Lady Extreme won easily on debut at Gosford on December 7, and had a hard run last Sunday, having to do plenty of work.
“She deserves a rest.”
Having put those two second placings behind him, Ryan is looking forward to starting another lightly-raced member of his team, four-year-old mare Ausbred Mimosa, at Canterbury tonight – and hopefully with better luck on this occasion.
Ryan was confident he had found the right race for her at Wyong – a $60,000 Super Maiden (1200m) at Wyong just before Christmas – but it didn’t work out.
She played up in the barrier stalls, and was a late scratching.
“It was one of those things totally out of character for her,” Ryan said. “We were going through the NorthConnex tunnel in Sydney on the way to Wyong, and the loud speakers came on and really upset her.
“Ausbred Mimosa was in a mood after that.
“I had to trial her at Rosehill six days later, and she stood in the barriers like a lamb, and was cleared to race again.”
Ryan gave the “green light” for a Canterbury assignment this evening after six withdrawals reduced the Maiden Handicap (1100m) field to seven.
“We might be running for second prize if the wraps on the favorite Yvette are right, but Ausbred Mimosa has drawn well (she will jump from barrier four) and it’s time to go back to the races.”
Jay Ford has ridden the mare at three of her four career starts, and also in a number of trials (including Rosehill last week), and has the mount again.
Story John Curtis, January 5, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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