The prospect of a rain affected Rosehill track tomorrow has trainer Gerald Ryan guessing if his first starter El Sasso will handle the wet conditions like his famous sire Snitzel when he steps out in the $85,000 Spotless Handicap (1200m).
Snitzel, when trained by Ryan took out the 2006 Group 1 $350,000 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on a heavy track, but the top Sydney trainer said that not all the Snitzel progeny handle the wet.
“Some do and some don’t,” Ryan said.
“Hot Snitzel has won in the wet, Top Drop doesn’t like it and nor does Snitzerland. We’ll just have to wait and see.
“He won his trial well. He is tall, leggy colt and very athletic.
“But it doesn’t really matter what the Snitzels look like, they can all run.”
Regardless of the track conditions, Ryan continues to produce top quality racehorse by Snitzel and is tipping a bright future for El Sasso.
El Sasso has shown plenty of ability in two Rosehill barrier trials in his lead up to his race day debut and was particularly impressive with a three length win over 800m on January 22.
“He raced outside the leader then quickened-up really well in that second trial,” Ryan said.
“He’s a horse with nice ability and if all the rain comes that they are tipping, I don’t think that will bother him either.”
Ryan has had continued success with the sons and daughters of Snitzel since he commenced stud duties, including last season’s smart two year old Amorino, Group winners Flying Snitzel and Hot Snitzel and his smart filly Snitzerland who ran second to Pierro in last year’s Group 1 $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 7 as well as winning a total of six races and over a $1m in prizemoney.
El Sasso will be coming up against the Gai Waterhouse trained Aussies Love Sport who has had the benefit of a race start when second to Dothraki over 1200m at Canterbury on December 29 and the Bjorn Baker trained Twilight Royale who has a win a second under his belt.
Waterhouse has swapped the blinkers for a lugging bit on Aussies Love Sport and stable foreman Mark Newnham said they were expecting a better showing on the bigger Rosehill track after the two year old had trouble getting around the tight Canterbury circuit.
“He’s a big long striding horse who is going to be better suited at Rosehill than at Canterbury,” Newnham said.
“He probably lost the race on the corner where he got a little unbalanced.”
“It was probably greenness on the tight track where the winner skipped away from him but he was running him down on the line.”
In a tight betting race, Twilight Royale and Aussies Love Sport have come up the $3 equal favourites with El Sasso breathing down their necks at $3.20.
