Ryan feels reason to be excited once more
RED Excitement has shown trainer Gerald Ryan enough to suggest he has again found form and is ready to take his place in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes at Randwick.
The gelding put in a breathtaking performance in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes in early September when he led the field by many lengths in an attempt to get far enough in front to keep champion Winx at bay.
The tactics were scuppered when she chased him down to win by a length and Red Excitement appeared to lose his way in his next few starts.
But his closing third in the Group 3 Festival Stakes last Saturday week when he finished less than half a length from the winner Testashadow has restored Ryan’s faith the eight-year-old is ready for Saturday’s 1600m feature.
“He’s going as good now as any stage of his career,” Ryan said. “He’s feeling happy and working really well. Brenton Avdulla will ride him.”
A year ago, Red Excitement also ran third in the Festival Stakes but missed the Villiers and instead successfully stepped up to the 2000m of the Summer Cup before going on to win the Gosford Cup over 2100m.
Queensland horses Crack Me Up, Hopfgarten, Someday and Torgersen are among the nominations along with Victorian Raw Impulse.
Torgersen has been resident at Chris Waller’s Gold Coast stable since September and has had four starts in Queensland for a win and two placings including a second to Crack Me Up in the Recognition Stakes on November 25.
He is also nominated for the Listed Lough Neagh Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday.