‘Cheeky’ Attractable ready to roll in the Scone Cup
Attractable has been keeping trainer Sara Ryan on her toes in the lead-up to the Scone Cup and when he is causing mischief on the training track, it usually equates to a bold race day performance.
“He’s very much a confidence horse. He thrives off being confident and happy and you know when he’s happy and confident when he’s being a cheeky bugger at home,” Ryan said.
“I had my seat belt well and truly on this (Thursday) morning.”
The winner of last year’s $3 million Big Dance (1600m), Attractable is being aimed towards a title defence and a top-two finish in Friday’s Scone Cup (1600m) will satisfy the eligibility clause for the Melbourne Cup day feature.
The gelding has drawn ideally in barrier three and Ryan says he will strip a much fitter horse for his last start fifth in the Hawkesbury Cup (1600m).
Attractable went into that race off a six-week break between runs after being scratched from the Doncaster Mile due to a heavy track and in hindsight, Ryan felt he needed the hitout.
“He’d had the one little trial, but he wasn’t quite fit enough for Hawkesbury and he just got tired that last hundred (metres),” Ryan said.
“But he is feeling very good now so I’m very, very happy with where he is at.”
Connections have nominated Attractable for the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) in Brisbane but believe he is at his best over a mile and are unlikely to head north.
Instead, Ryan is focused on gaining Big Dance eligibility and she is confident the horse is going well enough to achieve that at Scone, especially if first reserve Kibou, an on-pace runner, can squeeze into the field.
“Very much so. I’m hoping the first emergency gets in and he has a bunny to follow,” she said.
“If not, we will probably end up leading, but he’s better with one horse in front of him and outside the leader, that’s his favourite spot to be.
“But I’m not afraid to let him rip and roar, especially now he’s rock-hard fit.”
Attractable was a $12 chance with betting sites for the Scone Cup on Thursday with Nugget, one of four runners for trainer Ciaron Maher, a $4 favourite, ahead of first-up winner Waterford at $4.80.
More Racing News
Red Aces chasing Ryan a G1 first in the Victoria Derby
Right from the day Nick Ryan and his stepfather Jeff Gordon outlaid $380,000 for Red Aces at a yearling sale, the Group 1 Victoria Derby has been the dream. That dream could become reality when Red Aces lines up in the blue riband event for three-year-olds over 2500m at Flemington on Saturday. Red Aces is...
Lady out to beat the boys in 2024 Coolmore Stud Stakes
Trips up and down the Hume Highway between Melbourne and Sydney does not seem to faze the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Adrian Bott-trained Lady Of Camelot. The Golden Slipper winner has been doing it throughout her brief racing career as she is about to embark on her third start in...
Gear and gate significant in Private’s latest quest in Russell Balding Stakes
A dash of equine psychology combined with an overdue inside draw is the hoped-for key to Private Eye flipping his form and erasing Joe Pride’s unhappy memories of last year’s Russell Balding Stakes. Private Eye hasn’t been far away in three campaign runs, including a last start sixth from a wide gate...
Lazzat adds French twist to $10m The Golden Eagle
It has been almost two decades since Jerome Reynier’s last trip to Australia and back then, becoming a horse trainer wasn’t at the top of his bucket list. As a member of Godolphin’s highly respected Flying Start program, Reynier had designs on working in bloodstock and for a while, that was the path...
Punters keeping faith with Hinged in Rosehill Gold Cup
Boasting a form reference around one of the high-flying horses of the spring, Hinged is again drawing in punters as she looks to shed her bridesmaid tag in the Rosehill Gold Cup. The prolific placegetter, whose last win came 32 months ago in the 2022 Surround Stakes, is a steady $4.80 favourite...
Rey Magnerio set for dual Melbourne Cup week runs
From the time Rey Magnerio entered the Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock stable for a spring campaign, circles had been placed around two races during the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington. The first of those comes up on Saturday, the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m) with the second, the Listed...
Sea King races into 2024 Melbourne Cup with Bendigo Cup win
UK-trained Sea King has emerged as a Melbourne Cup contender after an impressive Australian debut victory at Bendigo. Success in the Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) on Wednesday qualifies the Harry Eustace-trained stayer for Tuesday’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington. Sea King is liable for a rehandicap for the Melbourne Cup...
Chris Waller keeps working on his Melbourne Cup Legend
Chris Waller’s agile training techniques were on show with Via Sistina ahead of last week’s Cox Plate and the champion trainer is now getting proactive with Melbourne Cup hopeful Land Legend. The Group 1 The Metropolitan winner was not a part of Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup field, but the imported stayer still...
Kitten’s ‘Wulf form to fly in The Golden Eagle
Gelded prior to this campaign, Tom Kitten will chase Saturday’s Golden Eagle (1500m) and the $10 million purse that comes with it, with trainer James Cummings believing his Group 1 winner brings the right form. Tom Kitten was last seen running into fourth behind Ceolwulf in the Group 1 King Charles III...
Zipaway on right track for G1 Railway Stakes assault
Reigning WA Guineas winner Zipaway is set to stamp himself as a key Pinnacles contender in this Saturday’s Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m), according to jockey Steven Parnham. Zipaway is set to have his first start in Perth this weekend since he finished third in last year’s Northerly Stakes (1800m). The...