RYAN’S SUCCESS WITH MARES IS “HEAVEN SENT”

BLAKE Ryan has a particular explanation for why he likes training fillies and mares!

“They might be only 80 per cent, but will give you 100 per cent every time,” the Hawkesbury trainer said this evening after scoring with Heaven Bound at Warwick Farm.

“They’re tough and I enjoy training them.”

Ryan’s victory with Heaven Bound ($10) in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m) for mares four-year-old and upwards was his fourth (her career tally stands at six) with the five-year-old daughter of Pierro.

And he has won five (four in town) with another mare, stable star Lady Extreme.

Ryan booked apprentice Mitch Stapleford for Heaven Bound’s city breakthrough today to offset her 61kg after regular jockey Jay Ford suggested claiming on the mare.

Heaven Bound returned to racing with a home track victory (ridden by stable apprentice Emma Ly, currently on the injured list) on December 14 before Ford partnered her when seventh to Kind Words in the Group 3 Belle of the Turf Stakes (1600m) at Gosford a fortnight later.

“I knew she was outgraded at Gosford, but I had to run her somewhere again leading up to today’s race, and as a Benchmark 72 rater she went terrific (beaten only two and a half lengths),” Ryan said.

“I spoke with Jay about this race, and he felt Heaven Bound would be helped with a claim.

“Mitch knew a bit about this mare when she was initially trained by Mark Newnham and he was there at the time.

“He rode her exactly as I wanted, and we got the right result, and the owners are happy.”

With Stapleford’s 3kg allowance, Heaven Bound dropped to 58kg and made the running.

Despite being challenged in the straight, she fought right to the post to hold out Covert Thinking ($4.80) and odds-on favorite Outta Line ($1.85) in a finish where just under two lengths covered the first nine “girls” home.

Following a benchmark 15 winners last season, Heaven Bound was Ryan’s fourth winner so far this season and his career 48^th.

Lady Extreme is back in work, and scheduled to trial at Hawkesbury on January 19.

“My goal with her hopefully is the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) against her own sex at Rosehill Gardens on March 21,” Ryan said.

“She has a real liking for Rosehill where her last three city wins have been.”

Ryan’s success with Heaven Bound continued the great start to the calendar year by Hawkesbury trainers, who have won eight races in the first seven days of 2026.

Blueblood filly Erin Jo revived memories of her dam and former outstanding race mare Lucia Valentina when she got her career off to a winning start at Warwick Farm today.

A heavily-backed $3.10 favorite (shorter on the totes), the three-year-old I Am Invincible filly got “out of jail” to edge out early favorite Our Huntress ($4.20) in the 3YO Maiden Handicap (1400m).

Having her third start for leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, Erin Jo (Chad Schofield) had a lovely run in transit from her inside barrier but couldn’t get clear running in the straight until late, and she did a good job to get there in time.

Erin Jo fetched $700,000 at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale, and the filly’s buyer John Singleton races her in partnership with media personality Erin Molan, after whom she is named.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JANUARY 7, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS