IN or out?
Hawkesbury trainer Blake Ryan is awaiting a decision from the owners as to whether his “special horse” Momack has possibly his last run for him at home tomorrow.
Ryan has again engaged apprentice Jett Stanley to lessen the gelding’s 61.5kg topweight by 2kg in the Martin Collins Polytrack Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1300m).
Momack has been listed for sale through Inglis Digital on Wednesday, and his owners are tossing up about racing him again before that occurs.
“Momack has been a very special horse to me,” Ryan said.
“He was my first city winner (in a Midway Handicap at Rosehill Gardens in May last year) and also my first stakes runner and placegetter when narrowly beaten by Kirwan’s Lane in the Listed Ladies Day Cup (1600m) at Hawkesbury last November.
“The owners have put a reserve price on him, and he is very sound.
“There are still further wins in him, especially if he is purchased to go either to Queensland or South Australia.”
If Momack is given the green light to line up tomorrow, Stanley’s claim means he will meet his last start September 21 conqueror, Phil and Tara Vigouroux’s Zoulogist, on 3kg better terms.
“It’s probably a slightly stronger race, but he is rock-hard fit and the weight turnaround gives him a great chance of going out on a winning note for us,” Ryan said.
Whilst Ryan waits on a decision re Momack, he has opted not to run stablemate Midori Giant in the Sky Racing Maiden Handicap (1600m) tomorrow.
Instead, he will go to a similar race at Newcastle on Tuesday, with Jay Ford his rider.
The Maurice three-year-old, who began his career at Kembla Grange two days after Momack’s last run, will race in visors and also have a barrier extension.
“Midori Giant is a massive horse with ability, but at the same time a work in progress,” Ryan said.
Regardless of whether Momack lines up tomorrow, the skilled Hawkesbury horseman has his hands well and truly full with 19 two-year-olds who will go up for sale at the Inglis Ready2Race sale at the Riverside complex at Warwick Farm on Tuesday.
“All the horses have been prepared well, and have settled in nicely at Warwick Farm,” Ryan said.
Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees has withdrawn Group 1 placegetter Pier Pressure from the $500,000 Tapp-Craig (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens today to give her the opportunity to shed her maiden status at the Hawkesbury meeting.
Instead of taking on her own age in the second running of the set weights plus penalties Tapp-Craig, Pier Pressure has a much easier assignment in the Bendigo Bank Maiden Plate over the same distance, and restricted to NSW provincial-trained horses.
Kerrin McEvoy, who was booked to ride the filly at Rosehill, partners her at Hawkesbury.
He has ridden four winners already at the track in the early part of the season; only one behind Jason Collett, who is not participating on Sunday.
Press Statement filly Pier Pressure, as a $151 outsider, gave her connections a huge thrill when a brave third to recent Group 1 Golden Rose winner Militarize in the Group 1 Sires (1400m) at Royal Randwick in April.
That was only her third start and she has now had two runs this time in, finishing fifth (beaten less than two lengths) in an 1100m Maiden Plate at Hawkesbury on September 7 before a third in a Super Maiden (1200m) at Warwick Farm 13 days later.
“Pier Pressure drew the outside at Rosehill, whereas it’s the exact opposite at Hawkesbury,” Lees said.
“She has taken improvement from both runs back, and should get every chance to break through from the inside barrier.”
Pier Pressure is the first foal of the Pierro mare Perissa, who went to the races only three times and won a Bathurst Maiden (1208m) in August 2019.
Lees also plans to start newcomer Detoron (Zac Lloyd) in the same race as Pier Pressure.
“Detoron had five starts in Victoria for a placing over 1100m at Wangaratta last December,” he said.
“She hasn’t been with us long and her work has been okay, but I doubt she can beat the stablemate.”
The rail is 2m out from 1100m to 450m, and in the TRUE position for the remainder of the circuit, and course manager Kyle Cassim on Saturday morning posted a “Goof 4” rating.
Seven races are scheduled, with the opener at 1.35pm and closer at 5.14pm.
*Story John Curtis, October 7, 2023
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