Trainer Gerald Ryan has revealed that talented mare Angel Of Mercy could be withdrawn from the 2014 Hollindale Stakes after the Gold Coast track was downgraded to a slow seven following a heavy storm last night.
Angel Of Mercy is unlikely to take her place in the 2014 Hollindale Stakes field. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Angel Of Mercy has performed well in two starts since joining the stable of Ryan, finishing third in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on April 5 before winning the Listed Winning Edge Members Quality (1600m) at Eagle Farm on April 19, and had received some support in betting for the Hollindale Stakes, but Ryan told Racing Queensland this morning that the Hussonet mare was now only a fifty percent chance of taking her place in the field.
“She’s hopeless on wet tracks and her chances have probably gone out the window after this rain,” Ryan said.
“I’ll speak to her owners first but I’d say she’s only a 50-50 chance of starting now.”
Ryan also has Dothraki in the field for the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1600m), but the veteran trainer said that the talented colt could join his stablemate on the sidelines this weekend.
Dothraki started his autumn preparation with a third place finish behind In Cahoots and Chautauqua in the Listed Gosford Guineas (1200m) on April 6 and was not disgraced when fifth in the Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 19.
Ryan said that he has been happy with the form of Dothraki this preparation, but confirmed that he was unlikely to run the son of Mossman on a rain affected surface.
“He travelled up good but he hasn’t settled in as well as I would have liked.”
Ryan will still have at least one runner at the Gold Coast on Saturday; with Dances On Stars set to take his place in the field for the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup (1300m).
Dances On Stars has not been seen at the races since he finished fourth behind Flamberge in the Group 3 Sebring Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens just under a month ago and Ryan said that the Snitzel gelding had been deliberately freshened-up for the Listed event this weekend.
“He’s settled in good since coming up here,” Ryan said.
“This is his fourth trip to Queensland and is a good horse fresh and that’s why we purposely gave him a month between runs.
“Dances On Stars gets through it but he’s not a lover of it.”
Dances On Stars ($4.60) is currently a narrow favourite in 2014 Prime Minister’s Cup betting markets from Benny’s Buttons ($5.50), Rollout The Carpet ($7) and Fillydelphia ($8).
