Hawkesbury inside mail: Sara Ryan has Group 1 plans if Matcha Latte can continue winning streak in Gold Cup

News.com.au

02-05-2025

Trainer Sara Ryan has every reason to aim high with the rejuvenated Matcha Latte and hinted at a possible Stradbroke Handicap start if he wins the Group 3 $250,000 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) at Hawkesbury on Saturday.
Matcha Latte's race career has been punctuated by serious leg issues but Ryan has persevered when others may not have and the gelding rewarded her with his win in the $1m Provincial Midway Championships Final at Royal Randwick last month.
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As Ryan was being congratulated immediately after the Randwick race, she gave an insight into the problems Matcha Latte has had to overcome just to get back to the race.
'Matcha Latte's broken my heart more times than once but we love him,'' Ryan said after the Provincial-Midway Championships Final.
'I've always known his ability, and for him to go and do that, it's just fantastic. A big thanks to my team to get a horse like him back to perform at his absolute top.
'As a Provincial trainer, this is our championship so to come out here and win it with a horse like him after so many issues is fantastic.''
If Matcha Latte can make it three wins in succession in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup, then Ryan has ambitions to set her stable star for the Group 1 $3m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 14.
'I will see how he goes at Hawkesbury but if he wins then we will probably take him to Queensland for the Stradbroke,'' Ryan said.
Matcha Latte is a rising six-year-old but was having only his 15th start when he held off Lord Of Biscay to win the Provincial Midway Championships Final, his third career win to take his prizemoney to over $1.1m.
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'We have him back to his best after all his issues so why not keep going with him,'' Ryan said.
'He's got his confidence up at the moment, he's racing well.''
Matcha Latte will start from barrier four and is into $4.80 in latest TAB betting for the Hawkesbury Gold Cup.
There's a lot in Matcha Latte's favour at Hawkesbury including the barrier draw, he has tactical speed and will make his own luck in running, drops to 53.5kg a and the soft-heavy track conditions won't trouble him, either.
'He gets through everything – wet, soft, hard tracks,'' Ryan enthused. 'He's a very versatile horse.''
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HAWKESBURY BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
RACE 9: Celui $11-$5, Fire Star $11-$9
RACE 10: Gallant Star $4.60-$2.80
EARLY QUADDIE
Race 3: 1, 3, 7
Race 4: 1, 3, 4, 7
Race 5: 2, 3, 4, 6
Race 6: 1, 2, 9, 14
QUADDIE
Race 7: 1, 2, 10, 12
Race 8: 5, 9, 12, 15
Race 9: 1, 4, 9, 12
Race 10: 3, 7, 10, 13
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PRICE CHECK
PUNCH LANE (race 8), trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, is very effective on soft-heavy conditions and he has been the big firmer for the Hawkesbury Gold Cup, coming in from $4.60 to $3.50 favouritism. There has also been good moves for the Chris Waller-trained duo of Mare Of Mt Buller $15 into $9 and Osipenko $11 into $9.50.
Punch Lane kicks clear and runs away with Race 8 at Randwick! @FreedmanRacing @nashhot pic.twitter.com/lCQI6OzlFo
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 26, 2025
SECTIONAL STARS
OSIPENKO (race 8) only ran ninth when resuming in the All Aged Stakes but it was a very good effort. He was back near last on the turn but ran on strongly to be beaten just over four lengths. His final 600m of 34.01sec was bettered only by the winner, Jimmysstar, and runner-up, Joliestar, both legitimate Group 1 sprinters. Osipenko also sprinted his closing 200m sectional in 11.87sec as he really attacked the line.
MOBY DICK (race 10) got a long way back and was held up for a few strides before storming home late to finish a sixth to Need Some Luck at Randwick. The true merit of Moby Dick's effort is underlined by his sectional times with an impressive 33.32sec final 600m and a closing 200m sectional of 11.52sec as he powered to the line.
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TRIAL POINTERS
JUST PARTY (race 6) has only one win from 10 starts but is a multiple stakes placegetter and a three-year-old of considerable promise. A son of 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Justify, Just Party has been gelded since he was last in work and readied for his Hawkesbury Guineas comeback with two barrier trials. He was particularly impressive on the most recent trial coming from near last and zooming down the outside to comfortably win his 1045m heat. He's trained up for his return.
BUBBA'S BAY (race 9) struck a rich vein of form when last in work, winning four of her last six starts including two at stakes level before her spell. She resumes in the Hawkesbury Rush but has trialled brilliantly twice at Newcastle in recent weeks, winning both with ease on heavy ground. Bubba's Bay is very effective on wet tracks and races well fresh.
Bubba's Bay holds on and wins at double figure odds for @Leesracing in the Magic Millions Nudgee Stakes! pic.twitter.com/eVIklsS3w0
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 28, 2024
BEST BET
QUANTUM CAT (race 5) was moving into the race nicely when he ran into a dead end and lost all momentum when he finished unplaced when resuming at Warwick Farm. Striking chestnut who gets out to 1800m at Hawkesbury which is more to his liking and will strip fitter for that luckless first-up effort. This former English galloper is yet to win in Australia but he has run a series of competitive races and gets his chance at Hawkesbury.
VALUE BET
MEDIA WORLD (race 6) won the Clarendon Stakes at the Hawkesbury stand-alone last year and returns to attempt a feature race double in the Hawkesbury Guineas. Media World showed plenty of determination to endure a tough run and still beat older horses when resuming at Warwick Farm. He's going to be fitter for that run, he's won over the course and distance, handles wet tracks and is good value around $8.