Sydney raider set to turn back the clock for Ryan

By Glenn Davis

Sydney raider Eagle Nest will turn the clock back more than ten years for Rosehill trainer Gerald Ryan if the four-year-old claims the Listed Tattersall’s Classic at Doomben on Saturday.

Ryan reigned supreme as Brisbane’s premier trainer for a decade when formerly based at the Gold Coast before closing his stables in 2007.

Ryan, who co-trains a team of more than 70 horses with Sterling Alexiou at Rosehill, is looking to repeat his Tattersall’s Classic victory with Jester’s Girl, who was in foal for her 2012 triumph.

Jester’s Girl had one more start after her Tattersall's Classic victory before being retired to stud after finishing second to Robert Heathcote’s Fire Up Fifi in the Listed Just Now at Eagle Farm that year.

Eagle Nest - a James Orman mount – has won four of her ten starts and is shooting for her fourth win in succession after completing a hat-trick of victories in a Benchmark race over 1100 metres at Rosehill on November 11.

“She was a bit backwards early on and immature when we first got her but she’s a lot stronger now,” co-trainer Ryan said.

“She was an expensive yearling and cost $550,000 at the Inglis sales and she’s got a very good pedigree page.

“Her mother is a half-sister to Bryan Guy’s Eagle Way who won the Queensland Derby before going on to race in Hong Kong.

“She’s also a half-sister to four or five other winners.”

Eagle Nest was originally trained by champion Hong Kong trainer John Moore at the Gold Coast but only barrier trialled once for him before being transferred to Sydney trainer Annabel Neasham.

The daughter of Irish sire Shalaa ran second on debut for Neasham in a Gosford maiden then failed at Hawksbury before being moved on.

Ryan is unconcerned about a wet track at Doomben which is currently rated a Soft 6.

“She goes okay with her toe in the ground but I’m not sure how she’ll handle it if it’s heavy,” he said.

“She’s won three on good tracks and one on a soft track at Hawkesbury.

“I think she has to be a chance in this race even though it’s a lot harder than what she has been meeting in Sydney.

“We’re chasing black-type with her because of her pedigree.”