Gerald Ryan is one of four Sydney trainers to have secured the services of comeback apprentice Jake Noonan for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting.
Last season’s leading Melbourne apprentice was only recently cleared to resume race riding after a heavy fall in a race at Flemington in May in which he suffered severe concussion.
Noonan made his race return at last Wednesday’s Geelong Cup meeting and will venture to Sydney for two rides for the Patinack Farm team, while he’ll also be aboard the Ryan-trained Conroy’s Gap in the 3YO Benchmark 75 (1200m).
Peter Snowden and John O’Shea have also booked the apprentice for a ride on the eight-race Rosehill card.
“Jake’s manager rang and said he was coming up, so we booked him for Conroy’s Gap,” Ryan said.
“He rode a couple of horses for us last season and he won an apprentices’ race for us at Hawkesbury earlier in the year.
“He’s a good rider and he’s got his eye back in quickly.
“He rode a double at Cranbourne on Saturday and got another one today (Tuesday) at Seymour.”
Noonan is booked to ride Second Draw and Web Of Love for Patinack, while he’ll also partner Rule Number One for O’Shea and one of Snowden’s runners in a 1200m Benchmark 75.
Conroy’s Gap drops in class after disappointing when finishing last in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m), won by stablemate Hot Snitzel, on October 15.
“I don’t know what happened the other day,” Ryan said.
“He didn’t do what I thought he could do, I thought he would have been very competitive in the race off his previous three wins but he was disappointing.”
After dwelling at the start, Conroy’s Gap raced behind the speed and came in more than eight lengths from the winner.
Ryan said vet checks and tests in the days after that race didn’t show anything wrong and the gelding had worked well since.
“On Saturday we’ll use his speed and see where he ends up,” Ryan said.
Conroy’s Gap will be joined in the event by stablemate Rock Monster, who is still a maiden from eight starts.
“He’s got more ability than his form shows,” Ryan said.
Meanwhile, the Darren Smith-trained Group One winner Atomic Force will carry topweight of 61kg in the Spring Flying (1100m).
The Ryan-trained Ahdashim is next in the weights with 57kg and will be ridden by Josh Parr.
AAP TURF
