Trainer Gerald Ryan is confident of claiming successive wins in the Listed Ken Russell Classic at the Gold Coast with talented Sydney youngster Dances On Stars.
Ryan won the 1200m feature last year with Hot Snitzel who went on to run a close third in the Group Two Champagne Classic at Doomben before claiming the Group Two Sires’ Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm.
Hot Snitzel wound up his winter campaign finishing second to Darley’s Benfica in the Group One TJ Smith (1600m) at Eagle Farm last June.
“Hot Snitzel grew another leg when he was in Brisbane last year,” Ryan said.
“Dances On Stars is going terrific and his work up there this week has been brilliant.
“He’s got loads of ability and a wet track won’t bother him.
“I’m expecting him to be very competitive and if he runs well he’ll go on to the Sires’ and TJ Smith like Hot Snitzel did last year.”
Dances On Stars scored a courageous first-up win in the Group Three Kindergarten Stakes at Randwick last month but has never raced on a rain-affected track.
However, Ryan’s confidence of him handling a heavy track has been boosted by his barrier trial form.
“He won a barrier trial on a heavy track at Rosehill last year and he ran second in another trial on the heavy when he started back this campaign,” he said.
“Hot Snitzel went to Queensland last year after finishing third in the Kindergarten. This horse won the Kindergarten.”
Ryan also has Extraceed engaged in the Group Three Gold Coast Guineas (1200m), Ironstein in the Group Two Hollindale Stakes (1800m) and Top Drop in the Listed Prime Minister’s cup (1300m).
He has decided to bypass the Listed Gold Bracelet (1800m) with Angel Of Mercy after the Gold Coast track was downgraded to a heavy 8 following overnight rain.
The Gold Coast track received a further 11 millimetres bringing the total rainfall to 145mm in the past eight days.
More than 300mm has been recorded in the past month.
