Ryan finds staying power in progeny of his group 1-winning sprinter
Craig Kerry
Gerald Ryan has a potential Oaks chance with the offspring of Queensland Derby challenger and late group 1 winning sprinter Snitzel thanks to his group 3 double at Randwick on Saturday.
Matias claimed the Frank Packer Plate (2000m) after Snitzel Dancer won the James HB Carr Stakes (1400m), giving Ryan and assistant trainer Sterling Alexiou hope for the group 1 2400m qualifying tests for three-year-olds at the Queensland winter carnival.
Ryan said the Derby had long been a target for Matias and Matias won the group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (1800m) at Eagle Farm in December for leading Queensland owner Ron Wanless.
Ryan said of Never Listen’s $450,000 winnings: “If he can prove himself at 2000 meters today, his target has always been the Queensland Derby.”
“I know he is by Snitzel, but his first three dams have either won or placed in the Oaks.
“We were thinking of giving him a short spell after we won in Brisbane. [off] … and we are targeting the Rosehill Guineas, but that would have rushed him a bit, so we gave him longer and targeted the Carbine Club and today.”
He said Matias would race his next race in the Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben on May 16, followed by the Derby two weeks later.
Ryan was less confident about Snitzel Dancer ($21) heading into the Oaks as Snitzel Dancer upset the previously unbeaten Peter Snowden-trained Claimant, who was overhauled late after running three wide without cover.
Ryan said Snitzel Dancer’s likely next target was the Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) or Queensland Guineas (1600m), which was listed a week ago at Eagle Farm on May 2, before a decision was made on the Oaks tilt.
The $425,000 youngster was coming off a Grade 1 win over 1,500 meters at the Hawkesbury and that came after two puzzling failures at Warwick Farm to start his preparations.
“We loved it from the beginning,” he said.
“I think he didn’t like Warwick Farm. We took him to the Hawkesbury and he beat the old horses with a lot of weight, then we decided to give him up and target this race with the idea of going to Queensland.
“I think it will take at least 1800, then we’ll see how we go.
“We bought about four baby Snitzels that year, and he had to be the most expensive. Brad [Hunt] and me [Vassallo] The bid from BK Racing was the losing side and they came too [the ownership].”
In the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m), seven-year-old Mazu achieved a remarkable treble in the race as trainer Joe Pride prepared the trifecta.
Mazu, who ran Everest last year, was led by Rachel King before leaving King’s Secret and Private Eye late.
This gave Mazu three consecutive Hall Mark Stakes, his only wins in that period. Earning more than $10.8 million, Mazu’s most recent victory before his 2024 Hall Mark victory was the 2022 Doomben 10,000.
Pride said King’s Secret would likely head to the paddock, Private Eye would then head to the Doomben 10,000 followed by the Kingsford-Smith Cup, while Mazu would have a spell or campaign in Queensland.
Asterix makes his mark on New Zealand cricket boss
Coach Chris Waller was thinking of the Gosford Cup with Asterix, owned by New Zealand cricket chairman and former Test player Mark Greatbatch, who had just his second win in Australia.
2022 New Zealand Derby winner Asterix stormed through the group under Jason Collett on Saturday to claim the group 3 JRA Plate (2000m) by half a length from You Wahng.
The first win followed a victory in the $300,000 Beauford at Newcastle in the spring, which ended a 21-month drought.
“He got his mojo back,” Waller said.
“I didn’t know what to expect in the first 2000 meters but it was great to see. New Zealand got some of its Derby performance back.”
Waller said the Queensland campaign awaits Asterix after the Gosford Cup on May 9.
Sargent mare racing towards her target
Randwick trainer John Sargent was eyeing black-type targets for Unique Ambition ($12) after coming from near last to break the class record in the Midway Handicap (1400m) at home on Saturday.
The five-year-old under Nash Rawiller shook home to win the 1400m handicap of 72 by a length and a half from Dusty Bay. His time of 1.21:67 surpassed the previous best of 1.21:82 set by Northern Eyes.
Sargent said he would be looking for lower-level black type races over 1400 meters for Unique Ambition, possibly at Scone, which hosts the independent town meeting on May 16. For mares and fillies the group 3 Dark Jewel (1400m) is the standout race.
The Dean Mirfin-trained Ishikari ($11) set a new class record on the good 4 track in the next class 3 Highway Hurdle (1400m) led by Rachel King.
Quinton is patient with Signor
Trainer Ron Quinton was resisting the temptation to race Signor Tortoni in this preparation, despite the four-year-old’s “probably his best win” on Saturday.
Signor Tortoni, the $5.50 favourite, raced behind the leader before storming to a one and a quarter length victory in the 88 handicap (1200m) under Kerrin McEvoy.
Quinton said he was concerned about the gelding, who carries a hefty 61kg weight, and considered running him in the group 3 Hall Mark Stakes instead, “but there were so many group winners here and he has plenty of time to run in the group races”.
He said he was likely to spell Signor Tortoni, who will make his sixth start this campaign, rather than pursuing a race at the moment.
“That was probably his best win,” Quinton said.
“He could always gallop and I couldn’t believe how long it took him to win his maiden.
“As Bart Cummings said, the cheapest thing in racing is patience.”
