Warrnambool trainer Simon Ryan and the new owners of Post Impressionist will look to recoup a portion of their investment when the gelding lines up in the Listed Pakenham Cup.
With $180,000 on offer to the winner, a strong performance in Saturday’s 2500-metre feature would go a long way toward balancing out the $225,000 purchase price paid for Post Impressionist.
The gelding was bought online by owner Shane Morrissy from Lloyd and Nick Williams and James Packer shortly after finishing seventh in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Morrissy and Ryan have their eyes on the Warrnambool Cup (2300m) in May, but they are hopeful of picking up prize money along the way.
Post Impressionist first arrived in Australia under the care of William Haggas and won at Rosehill in March 2024 before transferring to Anthony and Sam Freedman.
“We’ve had a few horses together over time and it’s silly to put them in the paddock,” Ryan said.
“They can get sick, they can get injured, not come up, and this race isn’t as strong as what he’s been running in.
“It might be a bit of an afterthought for some of the others at the end of their preps. Even if he could sneak into the money, it would give everyone confidence going forward.”
Ryan said the gelding arrived from the Freedmans in excellent condition.
“He was in great order when he came to me,” he said.
“It was just a matter of whether to give him a run and take a look at him, because he’s been bought with Warrnambool in mind.
“Shane’s from Torquay but he’s a big Warrnambool man, so while the horse is fit, we’ll try and get some prize money.”
Ryan added that Saturday’s race is likely the final hit-out before a short break ahead of the Warrnambool campaign.
“He had a bowl around at Warrnambool over 2000 metres on Saturday with company just to check his action and wind, and everything was good,” he said.
“He’s been in work a long time, so it was mainly maintenance. A heavy track is probably the only thing that would stop him running.”
Former Irish jockey Tom Madden will take the ride in the Pakenham Cup.
For odds and betting options on the Pakenham Cup, see Australia’s leading bookmakers via this comparison guide.
