Gerald Ryan has announced feature-race plans for Bandersnatch following a hollow last-start victory at Randwick.
The Casino Prince 3yo had to work hard to hold the lead in the Yulong Australia Hcp (1400m) on December 6 but was always travelling like a winner for Brenton Avdulla to score by three lengths from Twentyfour Carat (I Am Invincible) and Plenty (Zoustar).
Avdulla had time to look at the infield screen for any late closers but they were panels adrift of the winner who was coming off an even easier first-up victory at Hawkesbury last month. “I really liked him on type at last year’s Classic Sale and got him for $42,000,” Ryan recalled. “He’s always had ability but just needed time to mature.
“Brenton hadn’t been on him before Hawkesbury and he’s keen to stay aboard. We will give him one more run at Randwick on Saturday, December 28 and then tip him out for a spell.”
Ryan nominated the $200,000 Hawkesbury Guineas LR on Anzac Day as the first goal next prep followed by the $200,000 Inglis Guineas RL at Scone on May 16.
The Brisbane winter carnival is also on the drawing board with the Sunshine Coast Guineas LR an option on June 27. Casino Prince filly Baccarat Baby won it this year.
Bandersnatch is the penultimate foal from Divine Faith (Falbrav) who is an unraced half-sister to the dam of Testa Rossa stakes performer Flying Tessie.
Ryan has been firing with a 20% winning strike-rate out of his stables this season. He also prepares recent Warwick Farm winner Saas Fee (All Too Hard) who is an older sister to this season’s Maribyrnong Plate Gr.3 winner Hard Landing.
Casino Prince reach another milestone last Thursday when She’s All In notched his 1,300th career win with an all-the-way victory in the Walsh’s Hotel Hcp (1200m) at Queanbeyan. The Candy Man continued his successful run with a record-breaking win at Eagle Farm on Saturday and trainer Barry Baldwin will set him for the inaugural $1.5 million EVA Air Q22 (2200m) at the Brisbane winter carnival.
