Angel Of Mercy’s autumn carnival credentials go on show on Saturday on a day when trainer Gerald Ryan will also chase the rich Inglis Classic with an unraced filly.
Angel Of Mercy missed a berth in the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) last Saturday when fourth emergency, but her performance in Saturday’s 3YO Benchmark 73 Handicap (1350m) will play a key role in determining whether she takes on Sydney’s top three-year-old fillies during the autumn.
“She is going terrific and she never left Sydney last week,” Ryan said.
“If she measures up we could look at having a crack at something in the autumn or maybe look at the Brisbane winter.”
The autumn options for Angel Of Mercy would include the Light Fingers Stakes and Surround Stakes.
Angel Of Mercy emerged as a Magic Millions Guineas prospect with her second in the Wyong Magic Millions 3YO Stakes first-up before an impressive 3-1/4-length Warwick Farm win on January 2.
“I squeezed the first two runs into her in 12 days, but it’s three weeks between her last start and this and I think she’ll appreciate that,” Ryan said.
Brenton Avdulla is booked for the Angel Of Mercy ride where the filly will carry 54.5kg, with the Chris Waller-trained last-start winner Hoylonny also among the 16 nominations.
While Angel Of Mercy has already shown her talent on race day, Ryan is hoping two-year-old Cavalry Rose can take her trial form to the races when she makes her debut in the $250,000 Inglis Classic (1200m) with Glyn Schofield aboard.
Cavalry Rose, an $85,000 yearling purchase, pleased Ryan in a four-length trial win over 900m on January 6 at Rosehill.
“She trialled pretty well but I’d like to see her under race conditions,” Ryan said.
“At the moment she might only be fast. They can all trial good but they’ve got to go and put it together in a race.”
The Inglis Classic is restricted to horses offered for sale at the Inglis Classic Sale last year.
Ryan also nominated Frog Hollow but the colt will not take his place and has been sent for a spell.
The Anthony Cummings-trained Diamond Earth is expected to be the favourite having won the Inglis Banner in Melbourne and Inglis Nursery at Warwick Farm at her past two starts.
AAP TURF
