LONGFORD trainer Bill Ryan has thrown caution to the wind by aiming his in-form mare Sh’bourne Spirit at the Newmarket Handicap.
After the five-year-old made it four wins in succession with a brilliant victory in a benchmark 78 race over 1200 metres in Launceston last Wednesday night with Brendon McCoull aboard, connections discussed the mare’s options and agreed it was “worth a throw at the stumps”.
“The mare is racing so well and after speaking with Brendon (McCoull) after the win we have decided to change plans and have a crack at the Newmarket,” Ryan said.
“I now there is no guarantee that she will get a start because her rating isn’t all that high (76) but I feel she deserves the chance at a race like the Newmarket before we head her to the feature mares’ races.”
“The Bow Mistress (1200m) and the Vamos Stakes (1400m) will be her main aims but realistically she would have to prove she can be competitive in a race like the Newmarket to prove she warrants having a crack at those races,” he said.
Last Wednesday night Sh’bourne Spirit (Savoire Vivre-River Doll) settled fourth on a cracking pace but she became fired up an d McCoull had no option but to let her rip 650 metres from home.
The mare joined the leaders on the home turn and burst clear and staved off a late and determined challenge from Tap It In (Siggy Carr) that ran home well along the rail in the home straight.
Sh’bourne Spirit has won six of only nine starts and three of her victories have been under lights in Launceston.
“The mare pulled up exceptionally well from Wednesday night’s run and provided everything goes to plan the Newmarket will be her next race.”
“But if by some chance she doesn’t get a start in the Newmarket we will accept for the benchmark 78 over 1200m on the same program,” Ryan said.