Trainer Gerald Ryan will step Red Excitement up to Group 1 level in the $400,000 Sportingbet C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 14 after the gelding took his winning sequence to five at Flemington last Saturday.
Red Excitement, white and tartan, is set to step up to Group 1 company in the C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield after wining the Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington above. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.
Red Excitement had to overcome a wide barrier and a hefty 58.5 kg to overhaul Damien Oliver’s mount Tried And Tired to score a narrow win in the Listed $120,000 Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m).
That was the five year old’s fifth win on the trot after scoring a hat trick of wins during the 2014 Summer before being forced to the sidelines for ten months because a tendon injury.
But Ryan was able to bring Red Excitement back with a first up win over 1400m at Rosehill on December 20 and he is now ready to test him at the top level.
“I might have to step to something like the CF Orr (Stakes) because he’s won with 58.5 kg, and he’s been carrying big weights,” Ryan told TVN.
“He’s got two runs under his belt and the better horses will be fresh.”
“He’s honest, he tries hard and he knows where the winning line is. He gets his head down and he has a dig.
“He’s no star, but he knows where the post is.”
Ryan is also keen to step Red Excitement up to 1600m in the Group 2 $200,000 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on March 14.
The top Rosehill trainer wasn’t deterred by the wide barrier in the Chester Manifold and explained that he thought the gelding raced best with plenty of room around him.
“In every one of his wins he’s been wide or leading. The way he goes and his action, that’s what he likes,” Ryan said.
And jockey Brenton Avdulla rode a smart race and had the big gelding travelling smoothly three wide midfield before finishing hard down the middle of the track to grab a head victory.
Last Saturday’s win was Red Excitement’s tenth from twenty-seven starts and took his prizemoney earnings to $595,095.
