Ryker Records Dominant Barrier Trial Victory

Ryker cleared out from the rest of the field to record a dominant five and a half lengths victory in a barrier trial over 850 metres at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Scandiva has not been seen at the races since the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival, but performed well in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick this morning.

Scandiva has not been seen at the races since the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival, but performed well in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick this morning. Photo by: Steve Hart

Ryker jumped from the gates strongly in the second barrier trial of the morning and along with Anthony Cummings-trained Scandiva pulled clear from the rest of the field in the early stages.

The Redoute’s Choice gelding was kept under a heavy hold, but was still able to finish the trial in impressive fashion and ran away from his rivals to score a most impressive win from Scandiva, Terravista and Hawkspur.

Ryker has not been seen at the races since he finished a close third behind Sir Moments and Liberty’s Choice in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31 and trainer Gai Waterhouse is yet to reveal what races she will be targeting with the four-year-old, but she looks set for a big 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign.

Scandiva impressed as a two-year-old, winning the Group 2 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) and finishing second in the Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) during the 2013 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, but she was sent for a lengthy stint in the spelling paddock after she failed to fire in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on September 7 last year.

The Fastnet Rock mare has two barrier trials during the autumn, without returning to the races, but looks as though she is nearing a return to racing.

Terravista has not been seen at the races since he was sent to the spelling paddock after suffering from heat stress in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 29 and he worked home strongly under a tight hold.

Hawkspur was having his second barrier trial this preparation and looks as though he is on track to return to the races in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 30.

John O’Shea had both Tupac Amaru and Gallantin in the barrier trial over 850 metres and both carried the famous Royal Blue Godolphin silks for the first.

Neither of the promising stayers were asked for an effort in the barrier trial and they will likely be given another barrier trial before they start their 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaigns.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.