Opal Could Be Feast Or Famine For Ryan
- Wednesday, 03 March 2010 10:00
Gerald Ryan will wait until Thursday's barrier draw for the Listed Black Opal Stakes to determine where city winner Top Drop runs this weekend.
The colt is also among acceptances for the Group Three Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) at Warwick Farm on Saturday, although Ryan favours a trip to Canberra.
"If he draws well in Canberra he'll go there," Ryan said.
"The Black Opal was always the race we set him for, it's over 1200 metres on a big track and a good track.
"But if he draws wide at Canberra we'll go to Warwick Farm where we can ride him back because there looks to be a bit of speed in that race."
Top Drop has gate six in the 10-strong field for the Kindergarten Stakes.
There are 23 entries for Sunday's Black Opal with the Peter Snowden-trained Secession the 57kg topweight under the set weights plus penalties conditions.
Top Drop has 56kg as does stablemate Lonchero who has also been paid up for a race at Canterbury on Thursday night.
Ryan said connections would decide in the next 24 hours which race Lonchero would contest.
The Listed Black Opal is one of three feature races on Sunday's program along with the Listed National Sprint (1400m) and the Canberra Guineas (1400m).
Road To Rock is the 61kg topweight for the Sprint but will bypass the race in favour of Saturday's Group One Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm.
Other notable entries include import Basaltico for Guy Walter, the Lee Freedman-trained pair of Sound Of Nature and Dane Julia and Group winner McClintock.
Last year's Black Opal winner Delago Bolt heads weights for the Guineas with 59kg while the Walter-trained Hood, a half-brother to champion Tie The Knot, has 55kg.
Acceptances for the feature Canberra meeting will be taken on Thursday.
