Ryan’s keeping faith in Anchor

JANEL Ryan is hopeful today will be the day the promising but luckless Green Anchor puts it all together.

The Tolga trainer has persisted with the bay gelding this preparation despite a string of encouraging but disappointing runs.

The seven-year-old won the Magic Millions Country Cup Qualifier at the huge odds of $101 late last year but has since had seven trips to the races, resulting in six top-three finishes without a victory.

The $153,850 stakes earner will aim to break through this afternoon in the Race to the Reef Open Handicap – Heat (1000m) at Innisfail Turf Club.

“He can find a way to get beaten,” Ryan said with a chuckle.

“He has not quite got his head screwed on yet.

“At Cairns last week, as soon as he came around the corner, he was cruising and then he thought, ‘oh, I will just go back’ and it cost him the race.”

Hoop Nor Yadi regains the ride of Green Anchor this afternoon for the first time since they partnered to score at Cluden Park at huge odds late last year.

Green Anchor has run second to some of the most impressive horses in North Queensland, including Craiglea Deken, Windmill Lane and Pinyarda this year, but Ryan cannot fault her horse.

“He gets a cheque every time he goes around,” she said.

“He should have beat Windmill Lane but he decides to do different things in the race and loses concentration.

“It is like he is waiting for the horses to go past him and then he wants to chase again.”

Bub Baker-trained One Bar None brings winning form to the heat today, while Hitch ’Em Up, for Cannon Park trainer Stephen Massingham, is first-up after putting together three straight wins last campaign.

The Race to the Reef Final will be held in Townsville on July 21. A leg of the Magic Millions FNQ Up and Coming Stayers series will also be run at Pease Park today.