Image: Bruno Cannatelli
Coach hopes to get another VOBIS Gold payday with Regardsmaree
Nick Ryan narrowly missed out on a VOBIS Gold payday with Regardsmaree and the Flemington rider hopes to go one better this Saturday at Pakenham.
The six-year-old son of So You Think will run for the $175,000 VOBIS Gold Bullion on the Pakenham Cup Day card.
The 1400m event is worth just $25,000 less than the race Ryan aimed to go with Regardsmaree, last Saturday’s Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Caulfield, but is restricted to paid-up members of the VOBIS Gold scheme.
It’s a streak Ryan has successfully targeted with Regardsmaree, winning the $250,000 VOBIS Gold Sprint earlier this year, while earning connections a $37,500 check for his last start, his second winning partner in the VOBIS Gold Star at The Valley on the eve of Cox Pate.
“We could have run in Kevin Heffernan last week but these races really suit him,” said Ryan.
“He won the one at Caulfield and ran second in the one at The Valley so hopefully he can catch another on Saturday.
“He went down to St Leonards and spent a week or so on the beach, came back and had a light jump. I kept it fresh considering it stays at 1400.”
The VOBIS Gold Bullion is one of two Pakenham races in which Ryan has entered Regardsmaree, along with the $175,000 David Bourke Memorial Handicap (1200m), but it will be left to Edison and possibly Not To Be Mist to represent the stable in that event.
Ryan also has two nominations in the $300,000 Pakenham Cup (2500m), Vegas Knight and Winifer, but he said they were likely to go elsewhere.
On Friday evening, Winifer will run over 2500m at The Valley, while Moonee Valley winner Vegas Knight will contest the $130,000 Fulmen Park BM78 Handicap (2000m) at Pakenham.
“He galloped at Moonee Valley this morning and trained nicely.
“Going back to his previous career with Colin Little, he won at Pakenham, albeit on synthetic, by about five or six (lengths), but he was still at Pakenham and I think the big track will really suit him.”
Ryan’s other Pakenham Cup Day representative will be Port Albert, who is entered for the $150,000 John Duff & Co 3YO BM70 Handicap (1000m)
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