Sara Ryan chasing first Group win in Aurie’s Star Handicap
Hours spent in transit could be validated in the space of 70 seconds in Saturday’s Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
Wyong trainer Sara Ryan will cover thousands of kilometres in the 24 hours leading up to saddling her charge Much Much Better for the Group 3 contest down the famous straight track.
Ryan is the private trainer for the Chinese-owned Domeland operation at Kulnura but will head north to the Coffs Harbour Cup meeting on Friday before travelling south on Saturday morning in her bid for a first Melbourne win.
“I’m going to be doing some miles,” Ryan said.
“I will fly up to Coffs on Friday after trackwork in the morning and I’ll fly home from Coffs on Friday.
“I’ll ride work on Saturday and I will fly down to Melbourne.”
Ryan only gained her trainer’s licence last year but has been with Domeland for five years.
That time has served to cement Ryan’s method of preparing her team, which has produced 13 winners to date.
“I train a bit differently to most people,” Ryan said.
“I’m pretty much equestrian-based and I love what I do and I couldn’t see myself not doing this.
“I find if you teach them how to use themselves correctly, it is a big thing.
“Things like if they’re a puller, you can teach them not to be a puller if they know how to use their back legs.”
Ryan’s approach has improved Much Much Better’s consistency with the six-year-old finishing in the first four at his last five starts, including at Group 2 level in the Expressway Stakes in January.
Ryan said the son of Stratum was behaving like a much younger horse around the stable and could be a handful in the mounting yard at Flemington before getting serious on the track.
“He’s so playful at home,” Ryan said.
“For a six-year-old, you’d think he’s two with the way he carries on at home.
“It’s the strongest he’s ever been and it’s the happiest he’s ever been in himself.
“The only thing he can do is have a bit of a play in the mounting yard but other than that, he’s a real professional in what he does.”
Much Much Better has firmed from $15 to $8.50 in early betting on the Aurie’s Star Handicap since markets opened on Wednesday.
Ryan said the gelding would be near the lead for a long way in Saturday’s $200,000 feature.
“He’s such a free-rolling horse, I think the straight will suit him perfectly,” Ryan said.
“I’m very excited to get him down there.”
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jye McNeil will ride Much Much Better on Saturday.
