Menari is the first of trainer Gerald Ryan’s newly turned three-year-olds to step out this season with the colt one of 11 entries for the Listed Rosebud at Rosehill.
And for the first time since he ran second to Pariah in the Canonbury Stakes in January, Menari is likely to get a good track with fine weather predicted in Sydney in the lead-up to Saturday.
All three of his autumn starts were on heavy tracks including the Golden Slipper in which he crossed the line third, albeit more than five lengths from the winner She Will Reign.
Menari was demoted to fourth on protest after shifting ground twice in the straight and impeding Tulip.
He has been well behaved in his two barrier trials leading into Saturday, his latest when he ran second to stablemate Condor Heroes.
“He has come through his trials well,” Ryan said.
“Josh Parr will ride him and we’ll see how he goes in the Rosebud before we decide exactly where he goes.”
Ryan said Condor Heroes would make his three-year-old debut in the San Domenico Stakes on August 26 with another stablemate Trapeze Artist to run in the Up And Coming Stakes a week earlier.
Trapeze Artist won the Black Opal Stakes and ran sixth in the Golden Slipper before claiming a Group One third in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes won by Invader.
Among Ryan’s other runners on his home track on Saturday will be Washington Heights who made a successful comeback to Australian racing at Rosehill on July 15.
Ryan trained Washington Heights early in his career before he was sent to Hong Kong to race and won twice for Paul O’Sullivan.
He went sore and returned to Australia to recuperate and Ryan asked if he could have him back and race him on the softer tracks which are to his liking.
He is one of 12 nominations for the Spring Preview (1400m) headed by That’s A Good Idea who was scratched from Saturday’s Missile Stakes because of the soft track.
