Trainer Gerald Ryan hasn’t ruled out or ruled in a start in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap for today’s Rosehill Group 2 $200,000 Schweppes Shannon Stakes (1500m) winner Washington Heights.

Washington Heights, above, came from last to win the Shannon Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Washington Heights made it two wins from his last two starts and Ryan said the secret to his success was spacing his runs to three or four weeks in between.

The Group 1 $1m Epsom Handicap (1600m) is run at Randwick next week and Ryan said that he would reassess his thinking during the week to decide if the former Hong Kong galloper backs up in seven days.

“He is entered but whether he goes, I don’t know,” Ryan said.

“I think we have found the winning formula, four weeks in between his first two runs and then he has gone three weeks and he has been winning.”

“The whole plan all the way along was four runs into this and make this his fourth run and sum him up after that.”

“I am not going to make a race day decision on him. We had got him back going good. We will just sum it up and see what happens.”

“The plan was to go today and then re-assess.”

Ryan has ruled out a trip to Melbourne over the Spring Carnival for Washington Heights.

Washington Heights ($4.80) put in a terrific performance and after Kerrin McEvoy settled the six year old near the tail of the field, he swooped around the outside and looked the winner a long way from home.

$41 outsider Mighty Lucky ran home strongly for second with Imposing Lass ($7.50) fighting on for third while the $3.40 favourite Dawn Wall only paddled in the straight to finish fifth.