Gerald Ryan’s summer team has been depleted by injury to Group winning sprinter Ahdashim but the Rosehill trainer still has plenty to look forward to in coming weeks.
The winner of the Group Three Standish Handicap at Flemington on New Year’s Day, Ahdashim beat Latin News over 1100 metres on October 29 and had been earmarked for a Queensland campaign.
“He damaged a ligament behind a pastern and will spend six months in the paddock,” Ryan said.
“It’s a blow because he has always been such a sound horse and was going so well. He had never won first-up before.”
Queensland is still the destination for several of Ahdashim’s stablemates led by two-year-old Amorino who is bound for the $2 million Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast on January 14.
Amorino made an impressive winning debut at Randwick on October 15 and will have his lead-up to the Magic Millions at Doomben on December 31.
“He’s qualified for the Magic Millions Classic so he will be there,” Ryan said.
“Top Drop will go to the Gold Coast for the 1400 metre race, Adnocon will also go there and Rock Monster will go for the Maiden.”
Top Drop ran third in the Magic Millions Guineas earlier this year and his recent form includes a win at Geelong in October and a second to Queenslander Facile Tigre in a 1200m Listed race at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.
Ryan is also looking further ahead with plans for Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Ironstein to be discussed this week.
The John Singleton-owned six-year-old was a decisive winner of the Group Three Queen Elizabeth (2600m) on November 5 which qualifies him for the Melbourne Cup which he just missed out on this year.
“He is up at John’s Farm and we will talk this week about which way we want to go,” Ryan said.
“If we decide to target the Sydney Cup then he will need to come back into work very soon.
“The other option is to give him a longer break and set him for the Brisbane Cup in June.”
The Group One Sydney Cup in April is over 3200 metres and Ryan has no doubts the distance is within Ironstein’s capabilities.
The Brisbane Cup is over 2400 metres at Group Two level.
AAP TURF
