His trainer admits Ranier has not lived up to expectations this autumn but James Cummings will give the colt another chance to rectify that in the Hawkesbury Guineas.
By Lonhro out of Kanzan, Ranier has the breeding to be successful with his mother a multiple stakes performer and winner of the Darley Crown at the corresponding Hawkesbury meeting in 2011.
Ranier was edged out of first by Nomothaj on debut in the 2017 Maribyrnong Plate in which he finished well clear of third-placed Sunlight.
While Sunlight went on to win the Magic Millions at two and has become a three-time Group One winner in her three-year-old season, Ranier has not made the same progression.
“It’s fair to say he hasn’t taken the next step this preparation, but at this time of the year he gets another chance,” Cummings said.
“He should enjoy the drop back to 1400 metres.It looks his type of race.
“The best performance of his entire campaign would be his run at this trip when he was second-up in the C S Hayes at Flemington and ran fourth.”
Ranier has had five starts this preparation with his most recent sixth in the Group Three Carbine Club Stakes at Randwick on April 6 won by Ringerdingding.
The Joe Pride-trained Kylease is the early favourite for the Guineas at $2.70 ahead of Trope and Military Zone at $4 and Ranier at $7.
Among Godolphin’s other runners on the program for the stand-alone meeting is Multaja, winner of her past two starts including the Group Three P J Bell Stakes (1200m) on April 6.
She and stablemate Manicure, who has not raced since finishing midfield in the Group One Coolmore Classic, run in the Killahy Equine Crown (1300m).
“We’ve found that she (Multaja) likes to have her runs spaced,” Cummings said.
“She brings some authority to this fillies and mares race and she’s returning to Hawkesbury where she won two starts back.”
Cummings said Manicure should appreciate the drop back to 1300m from the 1500m of the Coolmore.
“She’s freshened up well since an arduous effort in the Group One Coolmore Classic and she looks well-suited dropping back to 1300,” Cummings said.
“”She should be strong on the day and capable of being very competitive.”
