Trainer Gerald Ryan is leaning towards testing Hot Snitzel against some of the country’s best sprinters in next week’s Group One Galaxy at Randwick.
It will be the first time the three-year-old has raced against older horses and Ryan confirms regular jockey Hugh Bowman will stick with him if he lines up.
“I’m eighty per cent certain he will run in the Galaxy. The other option is the Gosford Guineas,” Ryan said.
Hot Snitzel outgunned Manawanui first-up to win the Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm then wasn’t disgraced when fifth to Wild And Proud on a heavy track in the Hobartville (1400m) on March 3.
Ryan has kept him fresh since that run and says the gelding enjoys being in training.
“He’s just been poking around at home doing a little bit of work,” Ryan said.
“He thrives in the stable environment.
“He’s only lightly framed and it can fool you into thinking he won’t cop a lot of work but he does. Not fast work but pace work.”
Hot Snitzel is one of a band of progeny by the Ryan-trained Group One-winning sprinter Snitzel to have flourished under the Rosehill horseman’s training.
Snitzerland was sent to the spelling paddock after finishing runner-up to Pierro in the Golden Slipper earlier this month while Flying Snitzel won The Schweppervescence on the same program.
Hot Snitzel has also given his owners plenty to celebrate with five wins from 13 starts, including the Group Two Sires’ Produce Stakes in Brisbane last winter.
While the Galaxy will be his first test against seasoned sprinters, fellow three-year-old Foxwedge proved the younger brigade could hold their own by downing Hay List to claim the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley last month.
Ryan was successful with another of Snitzel’s progeny, Dances On Stars, in Saturday’s Kindergarten Stakes.
But he got even more joy from his son Blake’s successful riding debut at the Cootamundra picnic meeting.
Armidales Pride was a two length winner over 1100 metres giving Blake victory at his first race ride.
A former director with racing telecaster TVN, 25-year-old Blake Ryan has shed more than 50 kilograms in the past nine months to follow his dream.
He also works alongside his father at Rosehill.
Gerald Ryan was a former leading jockey who enjoyed Group One success aboard Bit Of A Skite in the 1980 All-Aged Stakes.
