Search

show me:

Ryan relishing second chance to work magic with Money

3 minute read

It might appear that Money From The Sky is new to trainer Sara Ryan but, while he’s done all his racing under Mark Newnham, Ryan has known the gelding right from the start.

MONEY FROM THE SKY.
MONEY FROM THE SKY. Picture: Martin King / Sportpix

Any horse that carries the Viribright colours was pre-trained by Sara Ryan and with Newnham headed to Hong Kong it's something of a homecoming for Money From The Sky, and stablemate Matcha Latte who has also joined the Wyong trainer.

So given Ryan is very familiar with Money From The Sky, who heads to Rosehill on Saturday for the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1500m), what was he like as a young horse?

"He was just big and dumb, he wouldn't know where his feet were,'' Ryan said.

"He was very gangly as a baby, it took him ages to work out how to actually go fast. Initially we thought he was the slowest thing we've ever bought.

"For how big he is he's terrified of the world but he's put in some very nice gallops at home so I'm quite excited about him."

The four-year-old, $5.50 with TAB on Thursday, was a source of frustration for Newnham - one start he'd look like a Group prospect and the next he'd be plan.

That inconsistency doesn't surprise Ryan but since the horse has been gelded he's managed to put two similar runs together and comes off a win over the Rosehill 1500m three weeks ago.

"He's a very nice horse, I'm very excited to have him. The magic gear change has been the determining factor,'' she said.

"He was one of those horses that was a bit disinterested in life and now he's a gelding he's switched on.

"I'm not making any jumps with him yet, continuing to be consistent is the biggest thing with him."

Ryan is keen to see what import Kyeema can do in the Midway Handicap (1400m) after an eye-catching local debut at the last Rosehill meeting.

Kyeema only turned three by birthdate in February so is a bit behind his peers but Ryan could be nothing but encouraged by how he hit the line into fourth behind Cruel Summer over 1200m first-up on a heavy track.

"He is a very interesting horse, he's a very quirky animal,'' she said.

"I wasn't sure whether I was going to run or not drawing so wide and being so heavy but being an English horse I thought if he can't get through it no-one can.

"He exceeded my expectation and he's trained on extremely well since then.

"I'm quietly excited about him. He's performed on heavy, can he perform on a good track. That's the question mark I have."

On the subject of interesting imports, The Mediterranean brings some serious European form into the Listed $160,000 Lord Mayors Cup (2000m) but also has some stories to tell about his journey here.

The Galileo five-year-old arrived on Christmas Day in 2021 but brought with him feet issues and took some time to acclimatise. He also required a tie back operation which set him back further.

For those reasons Ryan has to ignore his form for the moment, which includes a Group 1 placing in the St Leger at Doncaster in 2021 and a Group 1 fourth at Longchamps, until she sees him on race day.

"He's caused me nothing but nightmares, we've had issue after issue and it's taken us forever to get him right and back to the races,'' she said.

"His trials have been good enough without being fantastic but he definitely needs ground."

Attractable has gained a start in the Precise Air Handicap (1500m) and Ryan said he put in a better gallop this week than leading into his close up seventh in The Coast.


Racing and Sports

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au