Middle Park Stakes preview: Rossa Ryan hoping Task Force can prove up to the job
The son of Frankel, who is out of 2010 1000 Guineas heroine Special Duty, boasts a perfect record entering the prestigious six-furlong contest after backing up his debut success at Salisbury with a near flawless display in the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy at the Yorkshire track on his most recent start.
Although the Ralph Beckett-trained two-year-old, who is one of nine runners that will contest the £275,000 prize has work to do on official figures with a number of his rivals Ryan is confident Task Force can find the required improvement to play his part at the finish.
Ryan said: “He has done everything right so far and his Listed race at Ripon is working out really well. Quite a lot impressed me about him the last day as his win didn’t really feel like a race, it felt more like a piece of work as he was doing it that easily.
“I know this is a massive leap forward into a Group One, but he has done everything right and you can’t fault him in any manner.
“He has a very good cruise control and hopefully he can use that at the weekend. As to what his best attribute is I don’t know yet, but hopefully he will answer a few of those questions on Saturday.”
While unable to single out Task Force’s most lethal asset Ryan feels that Juddmonte’s homebred colt has made giant strides mentally since first gracing the track
Ryan added: “He has had the perfect preparation and he is now starting to figure things out. He learned a lot the last day. He still looked green, even though he won comfortably, and there should be plenty more to come from him.
“I’ve sat on him once or twice at home and he has matured up a lot. He has definitely come forward with his racing. He was a small bit of a handful before racing, but he is now figuring things out.”
The undulations of the Rowley Mile can catch some horses out but Ryan will not be offering that as an excuse should Task Force taste defeat.
He added: “I think he will be fine on the track as Ripon is undulating enough and he handled that really well. I was very taken by him that day and I’d now be hoping he steps forward again.”
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Task Force will be one of two chances Ryan has of securing Group One glory at the weekend after having his services acquired to take the ride aboard the Clive Cox-trained Symbology in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes.
Despite the daughter of Havana Grey coming up short in her three previous Pattern race attempts since making a winning debut at York, Ryan does not expect her to look out of place in the 13-runner field if she brings her homework to the track.
He said: “Symbology has done little wrong, although the last day things didn’t quite go to plan. She is in good health. It is a very good race and we will see how she goes.
“On her homework she has shown the ability to be able to perform at this level, but in the Group races she has run in up until now she has just been a bit green. Hopefully that won’t be the case in the Cheveley Park.”
Outside of the two Group One races on Saturday’s seven race card Ryan will once again link up with the Alan King-trained Paradias in the bet365 Cambridgeshire Heritage Handicap.
Ryan said: “Paradias has been consistent enough and he hasn’t done too much wrong, however he is off a career high mark. He looked like winning the race the last day at York with me, but he just hung across the track.
“We are dropping back to one mile one furlong from a mile and a half so we will see how he goes back down in trip, although he has won over it before.”
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