Matias put himself into the Queensland Derby conversation after his strong win in the Group 3 $250,000 Frank Packer Plate (2000m).
This win came just 35 minutes after stablemate Snitzel Dancer won the Group 3 Carr Stakes.
Ryan trained Snitzel to win an Oakleigh Plate before the sprinter went to Arrowfield Stud where he became a stallion sensation, winning four Australian Sires Premierships, 27 individual Group 1 winners including three Golden Slipper winners.
Snitzel died at the age of 22 last year but he seems certain to claim a fifth Australian Sires title with Matias and Snitzel Dancer taking the stallion’s individual stakes winners this season to 15 (the next best is 8) and his progeny have earned more than $20.5 million prizemoney which is $4 million more than The Autumn Sun.
“Snitzel is just a freak of a horse,” said Ryan, who now trains in partnership with Sterling Alexiou.
“He was outstanding on the racetrack and a phenomenon at stud – and he’s still throwing stakes winners.”
Matias ($2.70 favourite) became Snitzel’s latest stakes winner when he scored a convincing win in the Frank Packer Plate by nearly a length from Providence ($7.50) with Pictor ($13) a half length away third.
Ryan confirmed Matias will now be set for the Queensland Derby, joining Snitzel Dancer (Queensland Oaks) on the three-year-old classics path in Brisbane during the winter carnival.
“This race was the deciding point, whether he ticked the 2000m box,” Ryan said.
“I know he’s by Snitzel but his first three dams either won or ran a place in the Oaks.
“The Queensland Derby has always been the aim since he won the Grand Prix up there in December.
“I think we will run in the Rough Habit Plate. I know it’s a month between runs, I know he’s a big, gross horse but you can’t overwork him. Then it’ll be a fortnight into the Derby.”
Ryan praised jockey Nash Rawiller, describing his winning effort on Matias as “a beautiful ride.”
Rawiller said Matias showed genuine staying ability to win the Frank Packer Plate.
“I don’t know what time they ran (2m 02.43s) but it was a genuinely run race,” Rawiller said.
“My bloke was turned out to perfection. He’s been a horse that’s been building to this now for 12 months.
“You know, I think we just saw the furnished product, the sort of horse we thought he would be from day dot.
“Like I said, it was a genuinely run, staying-type race and he just thrived on that and he loved it.”
