Lightly raced two year old Star Of Monsoon will be tested as a Caulfield Guineas prospects when he resumes in the Casino Prince @ Vinery Two Year Old Maiden Handicap (1200m) at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Trainer Gerald Ryan, above, will saddle up Star Of Monsoon at Canterbury. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Trainer Gerald Ryan had always had a big opinion of the Lonhro colt and wasn’t frightened to kick off his race career in the Group 3 $150,000 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on January 30.
Star Of Monsoon was sent out as the favourite in a small field of two year olds but only managed to finish fourth to the John O’Shea trained Tessera.
Ryan then went back to basics and entered Star Of Monsoon in a 1200m two year old Maiden at Canterbury where he ran third to the Gai Waterhouse trained Kiss And Make Up.
Star Of Monsoon was then sent out for a spell and Ryan has never lost faith in the rising three year old and will try to qualify him for the Group 1 $1m Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 8.
“I’ve always had him down as a horse who hopefully could measure up to a Caulfield Guineas, he has the pedigree if he ever wins a good race, there are a couple of studs that have been keeping an eye on him,” Ryan told racing.com.
“He has always shown great attitude, ever since he was broken in everyone loved him.
“We were hoping to get him up to a race like the Sires Produce Stakes in the autumn but it just came too soon so we stopped him.”
“He has always been a nice horse, always shown good ability. He ran fourth in the Canonbury Stakes, on a track that didn’t suit him, then third behind Kiss And Make Up.”
“He is going like a horse who is going to get 1400m or 1600m.”
If Star Of Monsoon can resume with a win at Canterbury on Wednesday, Ryan might give some thought of running him in the Group 1 $1m Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on September 10.
The alternative would be to head straight to Melbourne and run in the Group 2 $200,000 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on September 10 followed by the Group 3 $175,000 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield two weeks later.
“I’ve always thought if you aim at the (Caulfield) Guineas, Sydney might be a bit early. He is still in the Golden Rose and those races but whether he goes there or heads to Melbourne for the Danehill Stakes, and then Guineas Prelude and Guineas, we will see if he is going good enough.”
Star Of Monsoon has drawn barrier three in the fourteen horse field aat Canterbury with Tin Clark taking the ride and has been installed as one of the favourites at $ 5 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
The John O’Shea trained Saxophone heads the market order at $4.80 while Preferito from the Gai Waterhouse stable is also well fancied at $5.50.
