In Brief
- Red Stiletto takes out the 2025 Group 2 Launceston Cup.
- Trainer Pat Ryan proud of the performance in Red Stiletto.
- Red Stiletto will transfer to Victoria with Brendan Pursell.
After falling short on his first attempt, trainer Pat Ryan finally secured his first Ladbrokes Launceston Cup victory with the outstanding chaser Red Stiletto, who claimed the Group 2 success on Monday night.
The Dilston-based mentor had long coveted a victory in his hometown feature, but it proved elusive until now.
After coming close in 2016 with Lemon Sunrise finishing second, Pat found another promising runner in Red Stiletto, who remained undefeated and now secured victory in the $60,000-to-the-winner event from box 2.
The red fawn daughter of Whiskey Riot and Sacred Shadow gave an outstanding performance, securing the win by a margin of 3-1/4 lengths over Mighty Quinn and Simply Danger, clocking a swift 29.46 seconds in the 515m event.
Red Stiletto wins the 2025 Group 2 Launceston Cup Final.
“She was sensational,” declared a very proud trainer, Pat Ryan after the cup victory.
“Her confidence has been instrumental in recent weeks. Her performance in the heats last week boosted our confidence. Drawing box 2 gave us a chance, and we hoped she would run to her best, which she did.”
Red Stiletto’s success in the Launceston Cup took her earnings to $105,115 with 12 wins from 32 starts, giving Greg and Gary Fahey and their families the thrill of having now won all three of the group races staged in the state.
They’ve won the Hobart Thousand with Kudaleen in 1982 and the Devonport Chase last year with Raider’s Guide.
Pat Ryan, from Queensland and now in Tasmania for the past 11 years, achieved his third group win as a trainer.
He previously won the Group 1 Eukanuba Cup with Wine Glass and the Group 3 QLD Futurity with Barrio Fiesta.
With the support of good owners like the Fahey family, Pat has been able to firmly establish himself in this state.
“I came to Tasmania with my family, starting from scratch, Greg and Gary were quickly on job to support us, and we have had some success with them in recent times. I am quite close to Greg Fahey, and he would be proud,” Pat said.
“Greg, along with his wife Janine, Gary and his wife Bev, and their daughter Carol, have been involved as well.”
Red Stiletto will now transfer over to Victoria later this week joining Brendan Pursell to continue her racing career.
Watch Red Stiletto (box 2) take out the 2025 Ladbrokes Launceston Cup on Monday night.