Hong Kong might have rejected Bachman but trainer Gerald Ryan is more than happy to keep him in the stable.
At his first start as a four-year-old and as a gelding, Bachman won at Randwick on Saturday to confirm a path towards next month’s $1 million Magic Millions Cup.
The subject of a seven-figure offer, Bachman failed the stringent veterinary requirements to race in Hong Kong.
“He has always been sound but they saw a shadow on his knee,” Ryan said.
“It isn’t a problem. I’m pleased to keep him. He has great owners who enjoy him and now he’s a gelding I think they can have a lot of fun with him and he can go on to fulfil his potential.
“He’s a much stronger horse now.”
A Group Three winner at two, Bachman was tried up to 2020 metres with a view to becoming a Derby horse.
This time around he will be kept to shorter distances.
“The plan is to go to the Goldmarket at the Gold Coast on Boxing Day over 1300 metres and then to 1400 in the Magic Millions Cup,” Ryan said.
“After that we will probably look at giving him a freshen-up and get him ready for the autumn and winter.”
Ryan plans to attack the $1 million Magic Millions Sprint (1100m) at the Gold Coast on January 9 with three-year-old King’s Troop who has a barrier trial at Rosehill on Tuesday.
King’s Troop had three starts in the winter for a win and two seconds.
Those two seconds have taken on a new complexion with the colt runner-up both times to the Chris Waller-trained Japonisme, winner of the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes during the Melbourne Cup carnival.
“I’m really pleased with him and the plan has always been to go to the Magic Millions,” Ryan said.
