a day ago
Trainer Blake Ryan is hopeful Lady Extreme can get some black type in the Ramornie Handicap
Trainer Blake Ryan is ready to put next month's Listed $200,000 Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton in his crosshairs following his bombproof mare Lady Extreme's latest success at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Lady Extreme continued her perfect start to this preparation with a determined win to finish the day in the Chandon Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m).
The daughter of Extreme Choice has been a marvel for Ryan in recent times, missing the placings just once in her 11-start career.
She is a stable favourite and Ryan is eager to raise the bar high for the rising six-year-old in a bid to enhance her value in the breeding barn later in her career.
'I have worked with a lot of better horses and Group 1 horses but I'd don't think I've ever worked with one that gives you as much as this mare,' Ryan said.
'There is not a lot of her either but I love her.
'We will give her a nomination for the Ramornie Handicap now. Whether she has enough ratings points to get in or if she is good enough is another thing but she has got three wins in town now.
'Luke (Wilkinson) her owner is a breeder so the only thing we can do now is chase a bit of black type so that's her next task.'
The Ramornie Handicap is one of the final stakes races of the season in New South Wales and headlines day one of Grafton's two-day carnival on July 16.
Lady Extreme put herself in the frame for the stakes tilt after backing up her first-up Midway victory in style on McKell Cup Day.
Lady Extreme just gets there in the last! @AlyshaCollett @blakeryan86
— 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) June 28, 2025
Jockey Alysha Collett was able to take full advantage of a favourable inside draw to score in the shadows of the post.
'It worked out great in the run, they didn't look to go that hard and weren't urgent to cross her,' Ryan said.
'Alysha (Collett) summed it up terrific.
'It was a little bit touch and go at the top of the straight but when the run came I thought she'd get there and then maybe she won't.
'She just doesn't know how to lay down.'
Meanwhile, Ryan will bring his promising two-year-old Just Awesome to town next Saturday with the debut winner poised to be nominated for the 2YO Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens.
The smart son of Written Tycoon made the perfect start to his career in a tough all-the-way victory at Gosford last month.
Next Saturday's 10-event program will be headlined by the Listed $200,000 Winter Stakes (1400m).
