Geran and Sykes set to strike again at Kilcoy

By Glenn Davis

The mother and son training partnership of Kylie and Corey Geran is hopeful the successful association it has with apprentice Landan Sykes continues at Kilcoy on Tuesday.

Team Geran has only two starters at Kilcoy and has booked Sykes for Island Tide in the Benchmark 58 Handicap and Galway Hussler in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Benchmark 60 Handicap.

Sykes has only been riding for a few years and has ridden 14 winners from 112 starts this season for a strike rate of 12.5 per cent.

He has forged strong ties since joining Team Geran six months ago and has notched up 10 wins from 40 rides for the Downs trainers.

Sykes grew up mustering and camp drafting before relocating to the Sunshine Coast to work as a breaker.

He took up a riding career after an opportunity arose to work for Sunshine Coast trainer Natalie McCall before moving back to Toowoomba where he started with John Thomas before transferring to the Geran’s.

“Landan has only been with us for six or so months and he’s riding well and rode his first provincial winner at Toowoomba on Saturday night,” said Corey Geran.

Galway Hussler has started 13 times for three wins and seven placings and is coming off a fast finishing second when ridden by Sykes in an 1100-metre Benchmark 60 at Dalby last month.

“She was very good when she ran second at Dalby considering she was coming off an injury setback,” Geran said.

“She hit the line well and got beaten by a smart one of Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted.

"She’s racing consistently and likes the Kilcoy track so she should be hard to beat.”

Island Tide was formerly trained by David Atkins in NSW before being moved to David Vandyke at Caloundra where he started nine times for one win and five seconds.

She then she was sold online for a paltry $3,000 and was moved on to the Geran stable where she has won two of her three starts, including a runaway win for Sykes in an 860-metre Benchmark 62 race at Gatton on June 29.

“She’s drawn well and is very fast so she’ll be hard to beat if she can find the front early,” Geran said.