Ellsberg might’ve finished sixth in the Theo Marks Stakes, but Gerald Ryan took some encouragement out of that heading into the Shannon Stakes at Rosehill this Saturday.
The five-year-old performed well, but just couldn’t find clear running on the straight last start in the Group 2 feature over 1300m.
The horse with $967,600 to his name and six wins from 20 starts is the $3.10 favourite with Ladbrokes.
Ryan is confident he can live up to that status over 1500m on the weekend.
“He’s there second-up. Perhaps you could argue his second-up form is not as good as his first-up form,” he told Sky Racing.
“But he didn’t have a hard run first-up. He never got a proper crack at them – he was held up, held up.
“He’s done well since. He bounced out of it really good.
“He goes up a little bit in weight (58.5kg) in the handicap conditions on Saturday.
“But he’s done well.”
Ryan likes the fact Ellsberg will be back at Rosehill, where he’s won three times.
Tim Clark has the ride on Saturday.
He piloted Ellsberg to his second career victory at Rosehill in a Benchmark 72 Handicap also over 1500m on December 5, 2020.
“Tim Clark will ride him, and he’s got a good record on the horse,” Ryan said.
“So I’m looking for another positive run from him.”
Three-year-old colt Brosnan has been working well alongside Ellsberg, and he is a $71 outsider with betting sites in the Golden Rose Stakes (1400m).
“He’s worked in blinkers since his run first,” Ryan said.
“He worked terrific with Ellsberg. He’s a bolter’s chance.”
And five-year-old Nasturtium also starts for Ryan in a Benchmark 78 Handicap over 1100m.
The five-year-old was beaten at the line by three-year-old filly Ebhaar for Peter and Paul Snowden in his last start in a Benchmark 72 Handicap over 1000m at Warwick Farm on August 31.
“She had a run under her belt. He had a fair lay-off and he’s improved from it,” Ryan said.
“His work last Tuesday morning was very good, and he worked well again (this week).
“But in saying that he’s going to have to step up on Saturday because it’s quite a good Benchmark 78 race.
“Hopefully the track stays firm. He wouldn’t be a good thing in the race, but he can run well.”
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