Warrnambool trainer Simon Ryan and the new connections of Post Impressionist will try and recoup some of their outlay in the Listed Pakenham Cup.
First prize money of $180,000 will go a long way to offsetting the $225,000 purchase price of Post Impressionist if successful in Saturday’s 2500m feature.
Post Impressionist was purchased on-line from Lloyd and Nick Williams and James Packer by owner Shane Morrissy soon after the gelding finished seventh in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Morrissy and Ryan have their sights set on the Warrnambool Cup (2300m) in May, but any prize money they can pick up along the way would be a bonus.
Post Impressionist came to Australia originally in the care of William Haggas and was successful at Rosehill in March 2024 before transferring into the care of Anthony and Sam Freedman.
“We’ve had a few horses together over time and it’s silly to put them in the paddock,” Ryan said.
“They can get sick, they can get injured, not come up, and it (Saturday’s race) is not as strong as what he’s been running in.
“It might be a bit of an afterthought for some who are at the end of their preps.
“Even if he could sneak into the money, it would give everyone a bit of confidence going forward which would be good.
“He’s had the best care, and we might as well try and capitalise now on some of their training.
“I said we’ve got $50,000 of Freedman’s training in him, so let’s try and get a bit back now.”
Ryan has liked what he has seen of Post Impressionist in the short amount of time he has been at his Warrnambool base.
“He’s come out of Freedman’s and was in great order when he came to me,” Ryan said.
“It was just a matter of whether to give him a run and have a look at him as he’s been bought for the Warrnambool Cup.
“Shane, he’s from Torquay but he’s a big Warrnambool man, so while the horse is fit and going, we’ll try and get some prize money.
“It’s probably the last race he can run in before having a few weeks off to get him ready for Warrnambool.”
Ryan has kept Post Impressionist ticking over ahead of Saturday’s race with only a heavy track likely to stop him from taking his place.
“He had a bowl around at Warrnambool over 2000 metres on Saturday with company which was mainly to see how his action was, how his wind was, and it all seemed good,” Ryan said.
“It was just a bit of maintenance work for him as he’s been in work for a long time.”
Former Irish jockey Tom Madden will partner Post Impressionist on Saturday.
