Trainer Gerald Ryan and Corumbene Stud’s George Altomonte have enjoyed success in feature races and jockey Josh Parr is keen to keep the party going.
Parr rides two superbly bred colts for the trainer-owner combination at Randwick on Saturday, undefeated three-year-old Standout in the Group Two Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) and the emerging Bottega in the Group Two Stan Fox Stakes (1500m).
Ryan and Altomonte teamed up successfully with 2017 Golden Rose placegetter Menari and two weeks ago combined with Tommy Berry to claim the Listed Heritage Stakes with Standout.
With Berry suspended, Parr has picked up the mount on Standout while he has an established rapport with Bottega who has won both his starts on the provincial circuit.
“He’s a lovely horse and he’s typical of Corumbene Stud. They just continually breed nice horses and they’re always very tough,” Parr said.
“He was far too good for his rivals in his previous two starts and he deserves a crack at some black type now.
“I’m confident the step up in class will help him because the races become run a lot more truly and things are smoother, you’re not trying to dodge lesser class horses and that’s a big bonus for him because he settles back in the field.”
Parr will ride Standout for the first time on Saturday but is across the horse’s form.
He was taken with the colt’s effort to measure up to stakes company at his first attempt and said Ryan had also given him reason to be confident.
“I’ve seen plenty of him and he’s definitely up to scratch on form and ability,” Parr said.
“He has to meet a couple that will be fitter than what they were previously but Gerald has got a very high opinion of this horse.”
Both colts are in the market with Bottega the $2.40 Stan Fox favourite on Thursday while Standout ($8) is on the third line of betting for the Roman Consul behind Heritage Stakes runner-up Cosmic Force ($2.30) and Microphone ($2.50).
