Ryan filly facing heavy track challenge at Randwick after setback
'She's gone six weeks now between runs,' he said. 'She was scratched on Wednesday, but it's got to the stage that she has to run.'
Sequista, a $100,000 daughter of D'Argento, is part of Ryan-Alexiou's deep two-year-old ranks, which includes winners Blitzburg (Canonbury Stakes), King Of Pop (Black Opal Stakes), Skyhook (Pago Pago Stakes) and Grand Eagle. She is a $3.80 second elect with Sportsbet on Saturday with leading apprentice Braith Nock taking two kilograms off.
He said there were no targets in mind past Saturday for Sequista.
Ryan was more confident about the prospects of his other runner on the card, including First Mission, which is a $4 favourite in the 1400m Midway Handicap with apprentice Zac Wadick claiming two kilograms. The three-year-old Snitzel gelding, a $725,000 yearling buy, won his most recent start on a heavy 8 at Canterbury.
'He seems to get through it,' he said. 'He's not a big, strong, heavy horse that might struggle in heavy ground. He's a light, athletic, nifty horse who gives the impression he handles it.
'The wet tracks he's been on so far, he's performed well on. Every heavy track is different, but he's handled soft at Hawkesbury and Warwick Farm, and he handled heavy at Canterbury.
'He's a nice horse; he's got good ability.'
As for the Queensland winter carnival, Ryan said recently gelded three-year-old Just Party would fly the stable's flag.
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'He'll go up and run in the Fred Best Classic on Saturday week,' he said. 'He's come back good, and he ran well first up. He'll race there then probably go to a race at Eagle Farm a couple of weeks later, then he might go to the Winx Guineas.'
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'Equestrian Australia has this afternoon imposed a provisional suspension of this person's membership of Equestrian Australia and their rights, privileges and benefits associated with their membership.' Ryan is now banned from taking part in any competitions affiliated with Equestrian Australia, with the suspension affective immediately barring him from the current competition season anywhere in Australia. Because of his Equestrian Australia suspension, Ryan has been automatically suspended by the world equestrian sports body, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). Equestrian Australia has also denied they asked for Dressagehub to remove the footage on YouTube. An RSPCA NSW spokesperson confirmed to a report has been made to them, with an investigation into the alleged abuse starting. 'After being sent footage this morning that contains distressing content of a person whipping a horse, RSPCA NSW has commenced an investigation and will be making further enquiries,' they said. In NSW, the penalties for animal cruelty can vary depending on the severity of the offence. For general cruelty acts, individuals face a maximum penalty of $44,000 and/or 1 year imprisonment, while corporations face a $220,000 fine. RYAN'S RESPONSE Hours after the video was made public, Ryan responded to the video on his Ryan's horses facebook page, claiming the horse was dangerous and had hospitalised another rider and friend of his. Ryan posted a video of the same horse, Nico, with another rider on him. Where the horse can be seen being pushed forward without a whip by a female rider using a training aid gadgets, such as spurs and a 'stabilising' martingale, which is used prevent the horse lifting his head up. According to Ryan, Nico is now 'thriving' under a new owner and rider. Ryan claims the video comes from an 'unhappy ex-employee' 2 years ago. He doesn't apologise for the whipping of Nico, instead claiming he has never ridden like that, and said it was a 'life or death moment for Nico.' 'I felt obliged to the horse to just have a look and see if it was possibly salvageable,' he said. 'I have never ridden anything like it. I am so sad this was caught on video. 'If you think I did that flippantly, you are wrong. I hated reaching out in those moments to Nico and asking the hard questions. That was the last place I wanted to be. I have never before ridden a horse that reacted like that, and I certainly will never do it again.' Ryan said that Nico would've gone to a slaughterhouse if he had not intervened. Ryan has not responded to his suspension. WHAT IS NAPPING? In the sport of dressage, or flatwork used for other disciplines such as Showjumping or Eventing, the horse is taught to move forward off the riders leg with minimal interference from the rider. 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Horses deserve nothing less than our complete respect, care and protection,' the said on Facebook 'We are shocked and heartbroken by the recent video involving Heath Ryan and do not support any treatment that causes distress or harm to horses. The video footage is completely at odds with the Heath Ryan we have partnered with for decades, and we have immediately ended our sponsorship. The saddles will remain at the property, as the comfort and safety of horses must come first. 'We respect the due process that the relevant federations will follow in their investigations, and we will not be making any further comments while this process takes place.'
