After a race day he would rather forget, trainer Gerald Ryan is hoping to come away from Randwick in a happier frame of mind.
Ryan had high expectations for two-year-old Return With Honour at Rosehill on Saturday but the heavy track put paid to the colt’s chances and those of his stablemates In Lighten Me and Coterie.
The bright spot of the day was Bandersnatch, who held on for a gutsy win and has now gone for a spell.
Ryan heads to Randwick on Saturday with popular grey Albumin in the Listed Carrington Stakes and the regally bred debutant Mission River in the Two Year Old Handicap (1000m).
A home-bred for Sun stud, the colt is by the late champion sire Redoute’s Choice out of triple Group One winner Yosei, whose victories included the 2010 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
“Mission River has trialled well but he would need to because this is a good race,” Ryan said.
“He is a really nice horse but I don’t know if he is an early two-year-old.
“He may be more like his mother and be a Sires’ type over longer distances but we will give him his chance.”
Mission River has had two barrier trials for a second and a win.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Rulership is the $2.90 favourite in opening markets, with Mission River a $6.50 chance.
Albumin is an outsider in the Carrington Stakes after a disappointing run at Randwick last Saturday week when he beat one runner home.
At his previous start on December 28, Albumin ran a solid third in the Listed Christmas Classic (1200m) won by Madam Rouge who subsequently claimed the $1 million Magic Millions Snippets at the Gold Coast.
Ryan said jockey Jay Ford had told him Albumin was racing like he needed 1400m so he would give him another chance although his six wins have been over 1100 and 1200m.
“Jay believes he is racing like he is looking for 1400 metres so we will give him another chance at it,” Ryan said.
The trainer has not given up on the Blue Diamond for Return With Honour, saying he had come through Saturday well.
“He ate up as he always does,” he said.
“We will have a look at the Canonbury Stakes on Saturday week before any decisions on Melbourne or Sydney.”
