ASTUTE harness racing trainer Rodney Ashwood has a keen eye for a horse so it should come as no surprise that a youngster he picked out at the Melbourne Yearling Sale last year is showing a lot of promise.
At Tattersall’s Park in Hobart last Sunday night Mister Ryanjack led all the way to win a 3C0 over 1609 metres.
It was his first win from eight tries but he also had accrued three minor placings prior to breaking his maiden status.
Mister Ryanjack began shakily from the pole position but once settled in his gear he mustered enough speed to hold the lead.
With his trainer in the sulky, Mister Ryanjack set a reasonable tempo, running his first 800 metres in 1m.02.58s and he came home his last half in 60.13sec.
The time was nothing to write home about but it was more the way the gelding tackled the assignment that impressed most.
“H did it at both ends of the race and that was probably the most pleasing aspect of the win,” Ashwood said.
“He is still very immature but I’m confident that when the penny finally drops he will develop into a very nice horse,” he said.
Ashwood advised one of his stable clients, Kim Rainbird, to bid on the horse at the sale and they were both surprised to pick him up cheaply.
Listen to what trainer Rodney Ashwood had to say about Mister Ryanjack – click here.