Last Saturday will live long in the memory of Kembla Grange apprentice Brock Ryan.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Riding on Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes day at Royal Randwick, the young gun piloted his first ever winner at metropolitan level.
Ryan linked up with Warwick Farm trainer Wendy Roche to guide Chalk to a well-deserved victory in the Metropolitan Civil Contractors Handicap Benchmark 80 (1200m).
“He did really good and I am very grateful to Wendy for putting me on,” Ryan told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the win.
“It is my first winner in town so it is pretty exciting.
“It is good to be up riding among these boys and getting an opportunity to ride good horses.
“I am very grateful.”
Ryan, who is indentured to Kembla’s leading trainer Gwenda Markwell, had to bide his time to get the monkey of his back in town, but produced an inch perfect ride to get on the board.
After drawing well in barrier three, he had Chalk poised to strike one out and one back in the run.
Ryan ambled up to the leaders when he produced Roche’s four-year-old at the top of the straight before holding off the fast-finishing Redouble and Firsthand in a gutsy run to the post.
It was an impressive display, but came as no surprise to Ryan, who was confident Chalk would produce following the gelding’s impressive first-up second placing.
“His run was super at Warwick Farm last start,” the apprentice said. “He got choked down a little bit but hit the line really strong. We got the gun run today in the one, one.
“I popped off their backs and he hit the line strong.”
Ryan will ride again at Wyong on Thursday when he pilots Bright Future for Sydney trainer Gerald Ryan.