Ryan looking for better luck for Peggy Jean in Emancipation Stakes

Trainer Gerald Ryan is looking for better luck for Peggy Jean in the Group 2 $175,000 Ascend Sales Trophies Emancipation Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday after she was a certainty beaten at Flemington last start.

Trainer Gerald Ryan is looking for better luck for Peggy Jean in the Emancipation Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Trainer Gerald Ryan is looking for better luck for Peggy Jean in the Emancipation Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Peggy Jean was on the end of some severe interference at the 250m and jockey Hugh Bowman reported to Ryan that the filly should have won the Group 2 $200,000 TAB Kewney Stakes (1400m) on March 14 instead of finishing two and a half lengths sixth to Wawail.

“I wasn’t there but Hughie was adamant, he reckons she should have won,” Ryan told Racing Ahead.

“She did a terrific job to pick herself up and get going and hit the line as strong as what she did.”

Ryan said that the Myboycharlie filly escaped any injuries and she has pleased the top Rosehill trainer since returning to her Sydney stable.

“She picked herself up and hit the line good, she has done well since she has been home,” Ryan said.

Ryan had also nominated Peggy Jean for the Listed $120,000 Schweppes Alexandra Stakes (1600m) and the Group 2 $200,000 William Hill Sunline Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley tonight but opted to stay at home.

“We were going to go back and run tonight but if she done that she would have to go to the paddock. Not going backwards and forwards twice with a three year filly,” Ryan said.

Because Peggy Jean is a Group 1 winner, having won the $1m Inglis Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick as a two year old, under the set weights and penalty conditions of the Emancipation, the three year old filly has to carry 57kg, the same weight that Chris Waller’s top line five year old mare Catkins has to carry.

“She meets them not real crash hot at the weights, set weights with penalties, but saying that she still has fresh legs, on her way up, 1500m on her home  track , I think she will be very hard to beat,” Ryan said.

Tommy Berry takes over from Bowman who is out due to a careless riding suspension and Ryan would like to see him settle Peggy Jean midfield from barrier seven.

“I would like to see her midfield off that gate. If you press too far forward you might be in no man’s land from that barrier,” Ryan said.

“She could just be back midfield and not give them too big a start and get a clear run in the straight she will run well.”

Peggy Jean has come in for a sprinkling of support since the field for the Emancipation Stakes was released on Wednesday and has firmed in from $26 to $17 with Ladbrokes.com.au.

Catkins is a clear cut favourite at $1.85 on the back of some outstanding Autumn Carnival form that saw her collect two wins at Rosehill in the Group 2 $175,000 NSW Thoroughbred Breeders Classic (1200m)  on February 7 and in the  Group 2 $175,000 Blackwoods Sidchrome Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) two weeks later.

Then at her latest run the grey mare was gallant in defeat when second to Cosmic Endeavour in the Group 1 $500,000 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on March 7.

Melbourne filly Madam Gangster is the only other runner under double figures at $8 with Mahara at $11, My Sabeel at $12 and Amanpour at $14.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.