Gerald Ryan believes he has another serious colt on his hands after Skyhook emulated his former star Menari with a tough first-up win in the Listed Rosebud at Rosehill. Carrying 60.5kg, the Written Tycoon colt joined Menari as the only horses to shoulder that weight to victory in the race, holding off Grand Prairie by half a length with Pallaton finishing a further two lengths away in third.

Ryan recalled that Menari went on from the Rosebud to claim the 2017 The Run To The Rose (1200m) and later ran third in the Golden Rose (1400m), and is hopeful Skyhook can follow a similar path. “Jason, who has been riding work for me for more than a decade, said he’s the best horse we’ve had since Menari,” Ryan said.

Skyhook already showed his quality as a juvenile, winning the Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) before contesting the Golden Slipper (1200m). However, Ryan admitted Saturday’s heavy 9 track was a question mark given the Written Tycoon bloodline’s limited record in the wet. “I wasn’t sure how he’d handle it, but he’s had a great prep, doesn’t take much work, and has the right mindset,” Ryan said.

Ryan outlined a plan to replicate Menari’s path, giving Skyhook four weeks before contesting The Run To The Rose on September 13, followed by the Group 1 Golden Rose two weeks later. “He’s not the type to back up every fortnight, so spacing is key,” he added. “We bought him at the sales because we loved him, and he’s showing us why.”

Meanwhile, Michael Freedman was not discouraged by Pallaton’s third-place finish, noting the colt ended up on the inferior inside ground in the straight. “He was fresh early, the tempo changed mid-race, and he had to go back inside,” Freedman said. The San Domenico Stakes remains an option in two weeks, although Freedman also flagged the possibility of heading to the Moir Stakes, where Pallaton would carry just 52.5kg in a race that typically produces fast tempos to suit his style.