TUESDAY: February 11, 2025: FROM one Ryan to another Ryan!
Depending on track conditions, Hawkesbury’s Blake Ryan at his home track tomorrow will debut an interesting unraced four-year-old he has acquired from Victorian trainer Nick Ryan (no relation).
And one which brings back memories for him because of an earlier association with the gelding’s dam, the former brilliant race mare Srikandi.
Able Yellow (by Justify) is an acceptor for the XXXX Gold Midway 4YO & Up Maiden Handicap (1100m), with Jay Ford booked to ride.
“Able Yellow is owned by one of my good Hong Kong clients, and this is his first preparation with me,” Ryan said last night.
“I’m not aware of his previous history as to why he hasn’t raced, and he’s still immature.
“Physically he’s like ‘The Hulk’, but has the mentality of the elephant who is scared of the mouse.
“I’ve given Able Yellow two 800m trials (he ran second at home on January 20 and 10 days later won narrowly at Kembla Grange) and he’s got ability, but is going to be better when he gets out over further ground.
“Able Yellow is ready to go the races, but I won’t start him if the track is too wet.”
Ryan had plenty to do with the Dubawi mare Srikandi, whom Ciaron Maher trained to win nine of her 15 starts, including both the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap and Tatt’s Tiara at Brisbane’s winter carnival.
Maher used to stop over with Srikandi at Ryan’s father Gerald’s Rosehill Gardens base en route to Queensland.
“The first time I rode her work I said she was the best horse I had been on since Exceed and Excel,” Ryan said.
“Srikandi was a three-year-old the first time she came north and won three races at the winter carnival.
“She went back the following year and won the Stradbroke (run at Doomben that year) and Tatt’s Tiara at the Gold Coast.
“Dad had a second stable at Hawkesbury then (from where Brad Widdup now trains), and I was looking after it for him.
“Srikandi stayed with me, and I pre-trained her for Ciaron before she went back south.
“She ran second to Chautauqua in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley.
“Srikandi was an outstanding mare, one of the best I’ve ever ridden, and it was a nice surprise to be given her son to train.”
Ryan, who added three more horses to his team (a filly by The Autumn Sun who will race for a ladies’ syndicate, and colts by Home Affairs and Pinatubo) on the first two days of the Inglis Classic yearling sale at Riverside, also is ready to take another debutante to his home track meeting tomorrow.
That is the three-year-old filly Sassy Ausbred, a homebred for Chris Lawlor’s Ausbred No 1, in the HRC Motel 2 and 3YO Maiden Plate (1000m).
Jay Ford also rides the daughter of Alabama Express, who has drawn the outside barrier to kick off her racing career.
Like Able Yellow, Sassy Ausbred also has trialled twice – and finished second on both occasions, and not beaten far.
She chased home Performing Diva at Hawkesbury on January 20, then was edged out by Bobs Back at Kembla Grange 10 days later after the pair had duelled out in front all the way.
. The rail is in the TRUE position, and a “Soft 7” rating was posted this morning, with a penetrometer reading of 5.65. Hawkesbury received 22mm of rain in the 24 hours to 8.15am today, and 54.5mm overall in the past week.
Hawkesbury’s first meeting of the calendar year (they last raced on December 15) will begin at 2.20pm and the last of seven races is scheduled for 5.50pm.
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