Latest news with #MidwayMaidenPlate
Courier-Mail
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Kembla preview: Ryan optimistic Explicit can beat older rivals
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. 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.
News.com.au
09-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Kembla preview: Trainer Robert Price feels stepping back up in distance is a key factor as Monte Veebee chases his maiden win
Trainers Robert and Luke Price are banking on a step back up in trip on his home track can end a frustrating run of minor placings and see Monte Veebee break through for his first win. The Prices were pleased with his first-up run when a half-length second behind Fleeting Spirit over 1300m on the Kensington before dropping his back to 1175m to chase a $100,000 Inglis Bonus in a Super Maiden at Albury on April 17. For the fifth time in his eight-start career, Monte Veebee finished second when beaten a length-and-a-half by Dubai Darling. Two of his second placings have been behind subsequent stakes winners Media World in the Clarendon at Hawkesbury 12 months ago and to El Castello at Warwick Farm last spring. He gets his chance to break through in the Midway Maiden Plate (1400m) from barrier 2. Fleeting Spirit flies past them to take the third at Randwick! 🰽 @KPMcEvoy | @RARacing_ | @aus_turf_club â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 26, 2025 'He is more a 1400m and 1500m horse so back to that trip here will suit him,' said Robert Price. 'He's well placed from a nice draw this weekend,' he said. 'We have tinkered with the gear. We had blinkers on him and t hey didn't really work so we have put the winkers on him now. 'There's nothing wrong with the way the horse is going. He is looking great. 'He should be in the winners' circle if things go right.' The stable also has Glitterscript in the same race and want to see the filly step up to the form that saw her place in town 12 months ago. 'She is running out of chances but things haven't been going right for her this preparation,' he said. 'She is a mare who squats down a bit in the gates. 'If she begins and gets a nice run in transit, she can run a cheeky race.' Invade And Conquer scored a dominant win over the Kembla 1400m three starts back and Price when ridden by apprentice Millie Fitzgerald. He then carried 59kg when eighth at Hawkesbury over 1400m and fourth at Kembla over 1300m at his last two runs. They have called on new Kembla apprentice Holly Durnan to claim 3kg in the Benchmark 68 Handicap (1400m) to bring his weight down to 55.5kg. 'He likes to be the dominate one in the run. He gets to that one speed and keep going,' he said. Invade and Conquer for #Invader gets it done for a break through win! ðŸ'¥ Leading from start to finish, he made it look easy! ðŸ�ŽðŸ'¨ Invader stands for $8,800 inc gst #Invader #AquisStallions â€' Aquis Stallions (@AquisFarm) September 14, 2024 'Back to the 1400m suits better and he may even be looking for a mile now if we can find one. 'He is going well and will be somewhere in the finish.' Also in the race, they saddle up Miss Hvar who cased a boilover when she won on debut at Kembla on April 19 at $51. 'That was a pleasant surprise,' he said. 'It's always hard stepping up from a maiden win into benchmark grade but she has done nothing wrong. 'She would have to be some sort of chance.' Their first runner of the day is Noble Ruby who is also another knocking on the door for a maiden win. The three-year-old filly has placed in three of her four starts this preparation, the latest a long neck second to Master Patrick at Wagga on May 1. 'She is certainly is knocking on the door but she is stepping back up to provincial grade. 'She has drawn nice and we still have a soft track. Hopefully we don't get any more rain. 'Barrier three is a nice draw for her. She races on speed in the first four or five and should get to ground in the middle of the track.'
