Gerald Ryan is weighing up the prospect of a Sydney autumn carnival campaign for emerging three-year-old Matias after the gelding produced a booming finish to claim the Group Three Grand Prix Stakes at Eagle Farm.
The son of Snitzel, who broke his maiden at Hawkesbury at his most recent start, was ridden quietly in Saturday’s 1800m test before unleashing a powerful burst down the outside to score decisively at $7.
Ryan said Matias had genuine excuses in his first two Sydney runs and was forced to race contrary to his natural pattern when breaking through last start.
“He didn’t like the real heavy track at Rosehill. He was unlucky at Canterbury. He won well the other day, but he was ridden too close to the lead,” Ryan told Sky Racing.
“I don’t know about stretching him further at this stage of his career. I wouldn’t mind taking him home and giving him a break, not a long break, and seeing if he can measure up in the autumn.”
A well-related gelding out of 2019 Victorian Oaks placegetter Never Listen, Matias appears to have inherited some of his dam’s staying qualities.
Winning jockey Michael Rodd admitted he didn’t know what to expect stepping off the gelding’s Sydney form but was stunned by his closing speed.
“That was really impressive,” Rodd said.
“Watching his replays down south, he’s by Snitzel, he’s out of an Oaks-placing mare. You’re not sure what to expect.
“Gerald said ride him back a bit today. We had our hand forced anyway. He was a little bit slow out and horses came either side of us and popped us out the back. It was a blessing. They went along really quick, and he was loving the gallop.”
The program also featured the continued rise of Queensland sprinter Grafterburners, who made it three straight with victory in the Gold Edition Plate (1200m).
Trainer Kelly Schweida confirmed the gelding will now be aimed at the lucrative Magic Millions Sunlight (1100m) on January 10.
“We will go to the slot race now,” Schweida said.
“The Vo Rogue Plate might have suited him, but it’s (Sunlight) a $3 million race so that’s where we will go.”
Grafterburners ($1.90 fav) defeated Sylph ($10) by a length, with Icarian Dream ($11) finishing third.
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