Six months after a broken leg cost him his first stakes win aboard Jamaea, apprentice Brock Ryan has ridden the road to redemption with a milestone victory aboard the exciting filly.
Jamaea, trained by Ryan’s mentors Robert and Luke Price, dashed home from near the back in Saturday’s Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) at Randwick to deliver the junior rider a belated black-type success.
Ryan had the autumn ride on Jamaea before he broke his leg and was replaced by Tommy Berry, who went on to partner her to victory in the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes.
However, when Berry was suspended for careless riding on Jamaea in the Silver Shadow Stakes last month, Ryan’s journey came full circle, but not before the apprentice attempted to help co-trainer Luke Price find a replacement rider.
“When Tommy got outed, I actually told Luke, ‘I know I’m not going to ride her’ and we were liaising with who to put on and I was giving him ideas on what riders would suit her,” Ryan said.
“Anyway, I ended up on her and it’s amazing to get the win. Awesome, (my) first Group win.”
Ryan timed Jamaea’s ($21) finish to perfection, arriving in the last stride to clinch victory by a short half-head over Robodira ($51) with Mallory ($18) three-quarters of a length away third.
De An Andretti started favourite but never figured and finished down the track.
Robert Price revealed they were leaning towards taking on the boys with Jamaea and had their sights on the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) on September 25.
“We are having a good look at the Golden Rose,” Price said.
“Initially, we thought the colts were going to be too good. But when Michael Freedman’s colt (Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside) was beaten at Kembla the other day, and to see our filly doing what she did today, we are paid up for the race so why not?”
