Kembla preview: Ryan optimistic Explicit can beat older rivals

Courier-Mail

16-05-2025

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As the end of the season approaches, it's not uncommon to see two-year-olds taking on the older horses in lower grade races and winning.
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou take up the challenge at Kembla when the well-bred Explicit steps out in the Midway Maiden Plate (1600m).
'I don't mind running a two-year-old against the older horses at this time of the year because they get that weight advantage especially over a distance like 1600 metres,' said Gerald Ryan.
Explicit is a son of Ryan's former Group 1 winner and champion sire Snitzel from Breakfast In Bed making him a three-quarter brother to dual Group 1 winner, King's Legacy.
'He has always shown us that he will be better over a little bit of ground,' he said.
'King's Legacy didn't show anything until he got to 1400m and 1600m.
'I quite like this horse and think he will come back a better three-year-old.'
Explicit debuted with a seventh behind Aerodrome and Hidden Motive over 1200m at Warwick Farm on April 16.
While beaten just over seven lengths by that pair, he was less than two lengths from the third placed Serpico.
He appreciated the race experience, a step up in trip and a gear change when a length-and-a-half fourth to Aerodrome in the Clarendon at the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting on May 3.
'He is a horse I always thought needed blinkers but we didn't put them on him in his first start because he had been a little bit difficult to get going,' said Ryan.
'After that run, I thought we are going to have to put them on and he adapted really well to them.
'I thought he ran quite well in the Clarendon at Hawkesbury the other day and it was quite a strong race.'
Ryan and Alexiou also saddle up Rhegion in the same race at Kembla.
The three-year-old son of Magna Grecia has placed third in both runs back from a long spell and won't be far away again.
'He had a wind operation after his first start 12 months ago and I don't like running those horses on heavy tracks if I can help it.
'He was a long time between run because I scratched him a couple of times because of heavy tracks and he just got to the stage where he had to run.
'His run at Muswellbrook first-up was quite good from a wide gate.
'I think he's improving the horse. I do prefer him on top of the ground.
'On his pedigree, stepping up to the 1600m will suit him.'
The stable's other runner at Kembla is Western Lane in the Maiden Handicap (1200m).
The three-year-old found the 900m at Newcastle too short on debut but did well to finish fourth behind Harlex and will appreciate the step up in trip.
'They were just a bit too quick for him. He will be better when he is able to travel a little bit,' Ryan said.
'He has improved off the run though and I think stepping up in journey to 1200m will suit him a lot better.
'I hope we don't get too much rain and I think he will be very competitive.'
Ryan and Alexiou's only other runner for the day is Ballroom Bella in the Listed Ortensia Stakes at Scone.
'She has drawn a barrier at last. We won't ride her for speed like we have been. We will just ride her in behind the pace because she has performed well doing that before,' he said.
'She is capable of running well in a race like this.