The Matt Cumani stable has continued its recent run of form with Ryan’s Fender leading throughout to score at The Valley.
Ryan’s Fender win in Saturday’s Ladbrokes Odds Boost Handicap (2040m) was the stable’s 11th winner from its past 40 starters.
A double on Pakenham Cup day, including the feature with Etah James on December 7, was the highlight along with Ryan’s Fender scoring at Flemington a week later.
Ryan’s Fender’s victory was Cumani’s fifth for the week across Victoria, starting at Colac last Saturday along with success at Werribee (Tuesday) and at Nhill and Penshurst on Boxing Day.
Ridden by apprentice Fred Kersley, Ryan’s Fender, the $1.50 favourite, scored by a length from The Lord Mayor ($5.50) with Maclairey ($8) 1-1/4 lengths away third.
Ryan’s Fender landed his sixth win from 14 starts and Cumani’s assistant Andrew Bobbin said the gelding had always shown potential, but was a handful.
“A big shout out must go to his track rider, an Irish rider that is old school,” Bobbin said.
“Ryan’s was the boss but he’s now got him going around on a loose rein.
“Hopefully he can keep the momentum going through the summer and the 2000 (metres) is probably his trip looking at that.”
The Cumani team withdrew Future Score from Saturday’s race after running second in the Lord Stakes at Caulfield on Thursday.
“Future Score’s crying out for 2000 metres, so the challenge now is to keep them apart,” Bobbin said.
“There’s a 2000-metre race at Flemington in two weeks time that looks an obvious race for both of them, so it’s a good problem to have.”
