Tamworth preview: Co-trainer Gerald Ryan is looking for Green Shadows to lock in his Big Dance place in the Tamworth Cup
The Big Dance last November was an afterthought for Green Shadows according to co-trainer Gerald Ryan but it's at the forefront of his mind this year.
Ryan and co-trainer Sterling Alexiou have targeted the Tamworth Cup (1400m), which carries Big Dance eligibility, as an ideal starting point for Green Shadows who races extremely well first-up.
'The Big Dance will be the plan for him this year. He has to get through this race first and we will see how he goes,' said Ryan.
'About six weeks ago we decided to target the Tamworth Cup first-up with him.
'It would be nice if he could book his place in the Big Dance now and we can make a plan to have him spot on in November.'
.@GRyanRacing make it back-to-back Goulburn Cup wins! �
Green Shadows wins the Goulburn Cup with @RachelK11 on board 🙌 pic.twitter.com/E7LIdR5Q91
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 25, 2024
The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!
Green Shadows scored a first-up win in a Benchmark 78 at Warwick Farm on April 1 last year and progressed to winning a Midway at Randwick before capturing the Goulburn Cup at his eighth start for the preparation on August 25.
He then had to stay up until November 5 for the $3 million feature.
'The Big Dance was an afterthought with him last campaign. He won the Goulburn Cup at his eighth start and was over the top by the time he got to Randwick three runs later,' he said.
'He still ran an honest race. He drew bad and was out wide all-the-way.
'He spelled well and I reckon he grew which is strange at his age.
'He has comeback well, his work has been good and his trials have been solid without his blinkers on.'
He will try and replicate the success of Big Dance winner Gringotts who qualified for the race by winning the Tamworth Cup.
Inverell trainer Todd Payne has his stable star and Country Championship Final runner-up Lisztomania in the Cup as well as the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
'Tamworth looks more tempting as the rail is out nine metres at Randwick which doesn't help but he does race so well there,' Payne said.
'He hasn't missed a place in six starts there and that's what makes it hard not to look at that race.'
Lisztomania has drawn wide in gate 14 in the Tamworth Cup, the same barrier he had when a close second in the Country Championship Qualifier.
Never doubt yourself!
A finish for the ages in the Country Championships Final, and Know Thyself wins it by a whisker for @Paulmessara and @LGavranich with @Aaronbullock90 aboard! ðŸ'� @aus_turf_club | @WorldPool pic.twitter.com/GPLIwD8z0Q
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025
'It doesn't really matter too much with him because he will be coming down the middle of the track anyway,' he said.
'He will go for a spell after this and our next mission is The Kosciuszko and we will go into that fresh.'
Payne also has three other runners for the day including Desert Cougar, who is a half-sister to Lisztomania, in the Maiden Plate (1000m).
The daughter of Capitalist only had one run for Payne at the end of last campaign when fifth to Sharpen The Knives at Armidale on December 8.
'She ran a handy race and we put her away,' he said.
'She trialled well the other day and I'm very happy with her going into this race. I think she is a chance.'
Payne also saddles up Celestialconqueror in the Super Maiden (1400m).
'He's a nice horse but will want further as he gets into his preparation,' Payne said.
'The 1400m first-up is a good starting point for him and the blinkers go on. He's worked in them and is a lot more focused.'
Takemine will back up in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m) following strong closing second over 1100m at Armidale last week.
'She is dropping back to 1000m and will get back but the last time she raced at the track and distance, she rattled home to be beaten a nostril,' he said.
â– â– â– â– â–
It's been a long and frustrating preparation with Duped By Spin but trainer Craig Widdison is hoping she can pick up a well-earned win when she crosses the border.
Duped By Spin started her campaign at Wagga on November 1 and had a couple of hiccups along the way but found some consistency in the past two months with consecutive placings before contesting last week's Albury Cup.
'She's had a fairly long preparation but nothing has gone right for her,' said Widdison.
'Every time we thought we had he ready, something went wrong then her last few runs had been good up until the Cup last week.
'We were hoping to get to the fence and have a cheap run but that didn't eventuate.'
The five-year-old finished second last behind Matusalem in the Listed event but will appreciate a drop back in grade when she backs-up in the Benchmark 82 Handicap (2000m).
County Kilkenny wins the Albury Mile, the @tpd_racing stable make it back-to-back Albury Mile wins! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/xdOnfznrbw
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 20, 2025
Prior to that, she was second in the Tom Patton Cup at Wagga, second in the Albury Mile behind County Kilkenny and a close fourth to Star Buyer in the Gundagai Cup.
'Her run in the Albury Cup was good on a heavy track behind County Kilkenny who grows a leg on the wet,' he said
'In the Gundagai Cup, she was left in front and fair way out and just got swamped late. She is a better chaser.
'She has taken no harm out of the Albury Cup and this looks a nice race for her.
' Nick Souquet is back on as well. He knows her quite well and has had some luck on her.
'She deserves another win and hopefully she can get that here.'
Widdison's other runner is Sister Shay who is looking for a breakthrough win in the Maiden Handicap (1500m) after placings runner-up in her three runs for Widdison following a debut seventh at Kyneton for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.
'She has been great with three seconds in-a-row but it's also been a bit hard to take,' he said.
'I have thrown the blinkers on her this week in the hope they can help her find an extra length or so.
'We have also gone with a claim this week, not that Wardy (Brendan Ward) has done anything wrong.
'We just wanted to try something different and that two kilos might just make the difference.'
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News.com.au
18 hours ago
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The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
'Most awful video': Hunter Olympian suspended, being investigated for animal cruelty
The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) has opened an investigation into the actions of Hunter dressage rider and Olympic Heath Ryan after allegations of horse cruelty were reported. Ryan was suspended by Equestrian Australia (EA) on June 13 after a video appearing to show him whipping a horse surfaced on social media. The video is understood to have been taken two years ago. Ryan, who competed at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, released a lengthy statement on social media defending his actions, saying he had saved the six-year-old horse from being destroyed after it attacked its owner. Equestrian Australia and the FEI have imposed a provisional suspension against the 66-year-old while the investigation is ongoing. "The scenes depicted are profoundly disturbing and stand in stark opposition to the core values of FEI horse welfare," FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibez said. "The FEI has opened an investigation to thoroughly examine all the facts and determine further disciplinary action under the FEI Rules and Regulations. "We are committed to ensuring that any behaviour which puts horse welfare at risk is dealt with firmly and fairly." Equestrian Australia chief executive Sam Jones welcomed the FEI's investigation. "It is both appropriate and welcome that FEI leads the investigation of this matter," Jones said. "Equestrian Australia remains extremely concerned about the incident and allegations, and we will support the FEI in any way we can. "We know our community is keen for answers, but we would ask for patience as the FEI rightly follows a thorough and fair process, in line with their policies and procedures." The provisional suspension means Ryan can take no part in FEI or EA competitions or events as competitor or official. In echoes of the incident that resulted in six-times Olympic medallist Charlotte Dujardin being barred from the Paris Games last year, the two-year-old video showed the horse being whipped repeatedly. Ryan, who was inducted into the Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame in 2017, defended his actions in a post to social media on June 12. "The most awful video of me on a young horse has just surfaced. This horse was dropped off at my place on his way to the knackery," he wrote. Ryan added: "I felt obliged to the horse to just have a look and see if it was possibly salvageable ... and had never ridden anything like it. I am so sad this was caught on video." Ryan said the video had been placed online by an "unhappy ex-employee" and posted another which he said showed the horse thriving in a new home. "If you think I did that flippantly you are wrong. I hated reaching out in those moments to [it] and asking the hard questions," he wrote. Ryan concluded: "All I can say is that this awful video was collateral damage of me from the bottom of my heart launching a rescue mission." After last year's Dujardin ban, the global governing body for showjumping and dressage pledged it would be uncompromising in enforcing animal welfare. The Herald has reached out to Ryan for comment. 'Oh my goodness! The most awful video of me on a young horse has just surfaced. This horse was dropped off at my place on his way to the knackery. His name is Nico. He was 6 years of age. A beautiful type. He was genetically a result of my best stallions all of which were successful in Grand Prix dressage, so Nico was beautifully bred. Nico belonged to a wonderful family friend who had been put in hospital in intensive care by Nico. Prior to this really bad accident Nico had always been a problem child and would just stop. This gradually got worse and worse until the accident. The owner of Nico and my friend is a diminutive lady and 100% not capable of being physically aggressive in any way. Nico before he came to me always had the best of best homes. He wanted for nothing. He was in wonderful condition, he was always rugged, he had his own paddock, he was regularly ridden and he was loved. Here is the question. If a beautiful 6yo horse turns up at your facility and it was bred by your stallion and it belonged to a lifelong friend of yours who had been put in hospital in intensive care by this horse would you just send it to the Knackery?? Well I didn't and I felt obliged to the horse to just have a look and see if it was possibly salvageable. Well did I get a shock and so the video. I have never ridden anything like it. I am so sad this was caught on video. If I had been thinking of myself I would have immediately just gotten off and sent Nico to the Knackery. That video was a life or death moment for Nico and of that I was very aware. I felt I genuinely had to try my very hardest to see if Nico would consider other options. Anyway by the end of that initial ride I did feel Nico was responding. I rode Nico for another couple of days and he responded very well and started to go without the use of excessive driving aids. I then called up another friend of mine who is also a Grand Prix dressage rider who is always watching out for a special horse but has very limited resources. I disclosed the whole story but said that I thought if Nico could find the right home I thought he was a good horse and maybe a very good horse. So Nico went to a new home. Well it turned out to be brilliant and the posted video is Nico thriving in a loving and competitive home with an exciting future. All of this transpired sincerely with the horses best interests the sole consideration. Unbelievably it was so successful for everyone except me with the release of this video. What can I say. If you think I did that flippantly you are wrong. I hated reaching out in those moments to Nico and asking the hard questions. That was the last place I wanted to be. I have never before ridden a horse that reacted like that and I certainly will never do it again. Was it worth it?? Well not for me however I am very happy for Nico. I need to add that this happened about 2 years ago and the video has been posted by an unhappy ex employee. All I can say is that this awful video was collateral damage of me from the bottom of my heart launching a rescue mission. Heath.' The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) has opened an investigation into the actions of Hunter dressage rider and Olympic Heath Ryan after allegations of horse cruelty were reported. Ryan was suspended by Equestrian Australia (EA) on June 13 after a video appearing to show him whipping a horse surfaced on social media. The video is understood to have been taken two years ago. Ryan, who competed at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, released a lengthy statement on social media defending his actions, saying he had saved the six-year-old horse from being destroyed after it attacked its owner. Equestrian Australia and the FEI have imposed a provisional suspension against the 66-year-old while the investigation is ongoing. "The scenes depicted are profoundly disturbing and stand in stark opposition to the core values of FEI horse welfare," FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibez said. "The FEI has opened an investigation to thoroughly examine all the facts and determine further disciplinary action under the FEI Rules and Regulations. "We are committed to ensuring that any behaviour which puts horse welfare at risk is dealt with firmly and fairly." Equestrian Australia chief executive Sam Jones welcomed the FEI's investigation. "It is both appropriate and welcome that FEI leads the investigation of this matter," Jones said. "Equestrian Australia remains extremely concerned about the incident and allegations, and we will support the FEI in any way we can. "We know our community is keen for answers, but we would ask for patience as the FEI rightly follows a thorough and fair process, in line with their policies and procedures." The provisional suspension means Ryan can take no part in FEI or EA competitions or events as competitor or official. In echoes of the incident that resulted in six-times Olympic medallist Charlotte Dujardin being barred from the Paris Games last year, the two-year-old video showed the horse being whipped repeatedly. Ryan, who was inducted into the Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame in 2017, defended his actions in a post to social media on June 12. "The most awful video of me on a young horse has just surfaced. This horse was dropped off at my place on his way to the knackery," he wrote. Ryan added: "I felt obliged to the horse to just have a look and see if it was possibly salvageable ... and had never ridden anything like it. I am so sad this was caught on video." Ryan said the video had been placed online by an "unhappy ex-employee" and posted another which he said showed the horse thriving in a new home. "If you think I did that flippantly you are wrong. I hated reaching out in those moments to [it] and asking the hard questions," he wrote. Ryan concluded: "All I can say is that this awful video was collateral damage of me from the bottom of my heart launching a rescue mission." After last year's Dujardin ban, the global governing body for showjumping and dressage pledged it would be uncompromising in enforcing animal welfare. The Herald has reached out to Ryan for comment. 'Oh my goodness! The most awful video of me on a young horse has just surfaced. This horse was dropped off at my place on his way to the knackery. His name is Nico. He was 6 years of age. A beautiful type. He was genetically a result of my best stallions all of which were successful in Grand Prix dressage, so Nico was beautifully bred. Nico belonged to a wonderful family friend who had been put in hospital in intensive care by Nico. Prior to this really bad accident Nico had always been a problem child and would just stop. This gradually got worse and worse until the accident. The owner of Nico and my friend is a diminutive lady and 100% not capable of being physically aggressive in any way. Nico before he came to me always had the best of best homes. He wanted for nothing. He was in wonderful condition, he was always rugged, he had his own paddock, he was regularly ridden and he was loved. Here is the question. If a beautiful 6yo horse turns up at your facility and it was bred by your stallion and it belonged to a lifelong friend of yours who had been put in hospital in intensive care by this horse would you just send it to the Knackery?? Well I didn't and I felt obliged to the horse to just have a look and see if it was possibly salvageable. Well did I get a shock and so the video. I have never ridden anything like it. I am so sad this was caught on video. If I had been thinking of myself I would have immediately just gotten off and sent Nico to the Knackery. That video was a life or death moment for Nico and of that I was very aware. I felt I genuinely had to try my very hardest to see if Nico would consider other options. Anyway by the end of that initial ride I did feel Nico was responding. I rode Nico for another couple of days and he responded very well and started to go without the use of excessive driving aids. I then called up another friend of mine who is also a Grand Prix dressage rider who is always watching out for a special horse but has very limited resources. I disclosed the whole story but said that I thought if Nico could find the right home I thought he was a good horse and maybe a very good horse. So Nico went to a new home. Well it turned out to be brilliant and the posted video is Nico thriving in a loving and competitive home with an exciting future. All of this transpired sincerely with the horses best interests the sole consideration. Unbelievably it was so successful for everyone except me with the release of this video. What can I say. If you think I did that flippantly you are wrong. I hated reaching out in those moments to Nico and asking the hard questions. That was the last place I wanted to be. I have never before ridden a horse that reacted like that and I certainly will never do it again. Was it worth it?? Well not for me however I am very happy for Nico. I need to add that this happened about 2 years ago and the video has been posted by an unhappy ex employee. All I can say is that this awful video was collateral damage of me from the bottom of my heart launching a rescue mission. Heath.' The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) has opened an investigation into the actions of Hunter dressage rider and Olympic Heath Ryan after allegations of horse cruelty were reported. Ryan was suspended by Equestrian Australia (EA) on June 13 after a video appearing to show him whipping a horse surfaced on social media. The video is understood to have been taken two years ago. Ryan, who competed at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, released a lengthy statement on social media defending his actions, saying he had saved the six-year-old horse from being destroyed after it attacked its owner. Equestrian Australia and the FEI have imposed a provisional suspension against the 66-year-old while the investigation is ongoing. "The scenes depicted are profoundly disturbing and stand in stark opposition to the core values of FEI horse welfare," FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibez said. "The FEI has opened an investigation to thoroughly examine all the facts and determine further disciplinary action under the FEI Rules and Regulations. "We are committed to ensuring that any behaviour which puts horse welfare at risk is dealt with firmly and fairly." Equestrian Australia chief executive Sam Jones welcomed the FEI's investigation. "It is both appropriate and welcome that FEI leads the investigation of this matter," Jones said. "Equestrian Australia remains extremely concerned about the incident and allegations, and we will support the FEI in any way we can. "We know our community is keen for answers, but we would ask for patience as the FEI rightly follows a thorough and fair process, in line with their policies and procedures." The provisional suspension means Ryan can take no part in FEI or EA competitions or events as competitor or official. In echoes of the incident that resulted in six-times Olympic medallist Charlotte Dujardin being barred from the Paris Games last year, the two-year-old video showed the horse being whipped repeatedly. Ryan, who was inducted into the Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame in 2017, defended his actions in a post to social media on June 12. "The most awful video of me on a young horse has just surfaced. This horse was dropped off at my place on his way to the knackery," he wrote. Ryan added: "I felt obliged to the horse to just have a look and see if it was possibly salvageable ... and had never ridden anything like it. I am so sad this was caught on video." Ryan said the video had been placed online by an "unhappy ex-employee" and posted another which he said showed the horse thriving in a new home. "If you think I did that flippantly you are wrong. I hated reaching out in those moments to [it] and asking the hard questions," he wrote. Ryan concluded: "All I can say is that this awful video was collateral damage of me from the bottom of my heart launching a rescue mission." After last year's Dujardin ban, the global governing body for showjumping and dressage pledged it would be uncompromising in enforcing animal welfare. The Herald has reached out to Ryan for comment. 'Oh my goodness! The most awful video of me on a young horse has just surfaced. This horse was dropped off at my place on his way to the knackery. His name is Nico. He was 6 years of age. A beautiful type. He was genetically a result of my best stallions all of which were successful in Grand Prix dressage, so Nico was beautifully bred. Nico belonged to a wonderful family friend who had been put in hospital in intensive care by Nico. Prior to this really bad accident Nico had always been a problem child and would just stop. This gradually got worse and worse until the accident. The owner of Nico and my friend is a diminutive lady and 100% not capable of being physically aggressive in any way. Nico before he came to me always had the best of best homes. He wanted for nothing. He was in wonderful condition, he was always rugged, he had his own paddock, he was regularly ridden and he was loved. Here is the question. If a beautiful 6yo horse turns up at your facility and it was bred by your stallion and it belonged to a lifelong friend of yours who had been put in hospital in intensive care by this horse would you just send it to the Knackery?? Well I didn't and I felt obliged to the horse to just have a look and see if it was possibly salvageable. Well did I get a shock and so the video. I have never ridden anything like it. I am so sad this was caught on video. If I had been thinking of myself I would have immediately just gotten off and sent Nico to the Knackery. That video was a life or death moment for Nico and of that I was very aware. I felt I genuinely had to try my very hardest to see if Nico would consider other options. Anyway by the end of that initial ride I did feel Nico was responding. I rode Nico for another couple of days and he responded very well and started to go without the use of excessive driving aids. I then called up another friend of mine who is also a Grand Prix dressage rider who is always watching out for a special horse but has very limited resources. I disclosed the whole story but said that I thought if Nico could find the right home I thought he was a good horse and maybe a very good horse. So Nico went to a new home. Well it turned out to be brilliant and the posted video is Nico thriving in a loving and competitive home with an exciting future. All of this transpired sincerely with the horses best interests the sole consideration. Unbelievably it was so successful for everyone except me with the release of this video. What can I say. If you think I did that flippantly you are wrong. I hated reaching out in those moments to Nico and asking the hard questions. That was the last place I wanted to be. I have never before ridden a horse that reacted like that and I certainly will never do it again. Was it worth it?? Well not for me however I am very happy for Nico. I need to add that this happened about 2 years ago and the video has been posted by an unhappy ex employee. All I can say is that this awful video was collateral damage of me from the bottom of my heart launching a rescue mission. Heath.' The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) has opened an investigation into the actions of Hunter dressage rider and Olympic Heath Ryan after allegations of horse cruelty were reported. Ryan was suspended by Equestrian Australia (EA) on June 13 after a video appearing to show him whipping a horse surfaced on social media. The video is understood to have been taken two years ago. Ryan, who competed at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, released a lengthy statement on social media defending his actions, saying he had saved the six-year-old horse from being destroyed after it attacked its owner. Equestrian Australia and the FEI have imposed a provisional suspension against the 66-year-old while the investigation is ongoing. "The scenes depicted are profoundly disturbing and stand in stark opposition to the core values of FEI horse welfare," FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibez said. "The FEI has opened an investigation to thoroughly examine all the facts and determine further disciplinary action under the FEI Rules and Regulations. "We are committed to ensuring that any behaviour which puts horse welfare at risk is dealt with firmly and fairly." Equestrian Australia chief executive Sam Jones welcomed the FEI's investigation. "It is both appropriate and welcome that FEI leads the investigation of this matter," Jones said. "Equestrian Australia remains extremely concerned about the incident and allegations, and we will support the FEI in any way we can. "We know our community is keen for answers, but we would ask for patience as the FEI rightly follows a thorough and fair process, in line with their policies and procedures." The provisional suspension means Ryan can take no part in FEI or EA competitions or events as competitor or official. In echoes of the incident that resulted in six-times Olympic medallist Charlotte Dujardin being barred from the Paris Games last year, the two-year-old video showed the horse being whipped repeatedly. Ryan, who was inducted into the Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame in 2017, defended his actions in a post to social media on June 12. "The most awful video of me on a young horse has just surfaced. This horse was dropped off at my place on his way to the knackery," he wrote. Ryan added: "I felt obliged to the horse to just have a look and see if it was possibly salvageable ... and had never ridden anything like it. I am so sad this was caught on video." Ryan said the video had been placed online by an "unhappy ex-employee" and posted another which he said showed the horse thriving in a new home. "If you think I did that flippantly you are wrong. I hated reaching out in those moments to [it] and asking the hard questions," he wrote. Ryan concluded: "All I can say is that this awful video was collateral damage of me from the bottom of my heart launching a rescue mission." After last year's Dujardin ban, the global governing body for showjumping and dressage pledged it would be uncompromising in enforcing animal welfare. The Herald has reached out to Ryan for comment. 'Oh my goodness! The most awful video of me on a young horse has just surfaced. This horse was dropped off at my place on his way to the knackery. His name is Nico. He was 6 years of age. A beautiful type. He was genetically a result of my best stallions all of which were successful in Grand Prix dressage, so Nico was beautifully bred. Nico belonged to a wonderful family friend who had been put in hospital in intensive care by Nico. Prior to this really bad accident Nico had always been a problem child and would just stop. This gradually got worse and worse until the accident. The owner of Nico and my friend is a diminutive lady and 100% not capable of being physically aggressive in any way. Nico before he came to me always had the best of best homes. He wanted for nothing. He was in wonderful condition, he was always rugged, he had his own paddock, he was regularly ridden and he was loved. Here is the question. If a beautiful 6yo horse turns up at your facility and it was bred by your stallion and it belonged to a lifelong friend of yours who had been put in hospital in intensive care by this horse would you just send it to the Knackery?? Well I didn't and I felt obliged to the horse to just have a look and see if it was possibly salvageable. Well did I get a shock and so the video. I have never ridden anything like it. I am so sad this was caught on video. If I had been thinking of myself I would have immediately just gotten off and sent Nico to the Knackery. That video was a life or death moment for Nico and of that I was very aware. I felt I genuinely had to try my very hardest to see if Nico would consider other options. Anyway by the end of that initial ride I did feel Nico was responding. I rode Nico for another couple of days and he responded very well and started to go without the use of excessive driving aids. I then called up another friend of mine who is also a Grand Prix dressage rider who is always watching out for a special horse but has very limited resources. I disclosed the whole story but said that I thought if Nico could find the right home I thought he was a good horse and maybe a very good horse. So Nico went to a new home. Well it turned out to be brilliant and the posted video is Nico thriving in a loving and competitive home with an exciting future. All of this transpired sincerely with the horses best interests the sole consideration. Unbelievably it was so successful for everyone except me with the release of this video. What can I say. If you think I did that flippantly you are wrong. I hated reaching out in those moments to Nico and asking the hard questions. That was the last place I wanted to be. I have never before ridden a horse that reacted like that and I certainly will never do it again. Was it worth it?? Well not for me however I am very happy for Nico. I need to add that this happened about 2 years ago and the video has been posted by an unhappy ex employee. All I can say is that this awful video was collateral damage of me from the bottom of my heart launching a rescue mission. Heath.'
