Celebrity stalker: Ryan wants Melito to hitch a ride to more group 1 glory
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday April 1, 2011
Astute trainer Gerald Ryan will send his multiple group 1-winning filly Melito on a stalking mission in a bid to end More Joyous's domination of Sydney racing. The two mares, along with five rivals, clash in Saturday's Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Rosehill."We'll be stalking More Joyous," Ryan said. "Montana Flyer looks like the leader, More Joyous will sit outside and we'll be behind her. Hopefully we'll catch hold of her tail when she sprints."The seven-horse field prompted Ryan to say: "You'd take any one of them home." He reported Melito had continued to train on since the last-start third with 59.5kg in the Coolmore Classic. "She has done very well," Ryan assured. "She worked good on Tuesday and is good within herself."It is a similar case with Ryan's Golden Slipper outsiders Saramenha and Hot Snitzel."Both horses are fit and well," he said. "They are going in at the top of their game and if they are not good enough, they're not good enough."EXCELLENT BIDThe three-quarter-brother to three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva returns to Sydney with Shadowofexcellence running in Saturday's Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill.The winkers have been taken off the recent Newcastle maiden winner and the blinkers are going on in a race in which Retrieve will back up after setting the pace and beating all but the Kiwi Jimmy Choux in last Saturday's Rosehill Guineas.Shadowofexcellence was a last-start seventh behind Domesky in the Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley, with the winner's stablemate Blackie running in the Tulloch having impressed scoring in the Phar Lap Stakes at fortnight ago.LILY BLOOMSAs Les Bridge gears up to bid farewell to crowd favourite Hot Danish, the Randwick horseman is eyeing off carnival riches with Jersey Lily.The mare was game when chasing home Aloha in last Saturday week's Coolmore Classic at Rosehill.Jersey Lily returns for Saturday's Queen Of The Turf Stakes, which is dominated by More Joyous. "She pulled up terrific and I couldn't get her any fitter," Bridge said. "We'll see how good she is on Saturday. She deserves a shot at it and even if she ran a place it would be great for her."Asked about More Joyous, he replied: "Oh well, she is a champion mare." Hot Danish remains in the Randwick equine hospital recovering from an infected leg. With her racing days over, she will be sold in June.ONE WINNERJoe Pride reckons the Warwick Farm stable has Saturday's Queen's Cup at Rosehill covered. Especially on the weather front with his dual group 1 winner Vision And Power and the Queensland Oaks winner Miss Keepsake running."One wants a wet track, one wants it dry, so one will get conditions to suit," Pride said.Vision And Power is the soft-surface type while Miss Keepsake is looking for firm footing. Vision And Power ran fifth last time out in the Sky High Stakes with Miss Keepsake sixth when having only her fourth start for Pride."She [Miss Keepsake] didn't pick her feet up on that track the other day," Pride said. "She travelled well until the jockey let her go. [Then] she was spinning her wheels."FALL GUYSA comprehensive study into the welfare of Australian jockeys has been carried out by the Australian government, with Racing NSW's Keith Bulloch a major contributor.A new jockey helmet, now at the prototype stage, is on its way while the research found fractures and sprains were the most common injuries suffered by the brave men in the saddle.Upper and lower limb injuries contributed to 60 per cent of insurance claims while the injury rate in NSW was approximately one in every 500 rides.Interestingly, accidents in the barriers accounted for a quarter of all the injuries."The report recommends further research and development into alternative body protection, particularly for upper limbs, shoulder region and the lower limbs, particular the leg and foot," Bulloch stated.
© 2011 Sydney Morning Herald
