BLAKE Ryan was watching from afar and feared the worst when his well
supported favorite Heron was strongly challenged half way along the straight at Nowra today.
“I thought here we go again,” the Hawkesbury trainer said, knowing he had saddled nine
placegetters (five of them seconds) since his last winner.
“Thankfully Heron is a tough filly and got home.”
A $2.20 favorite, Heron (Jean Van Overmeire) wouldn’t give in and made a “bird” of the result, albeit narrowly, prevailing over Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker’s Ciao Bella Mia ($6) and Ciaron Maher’s Glory ($5.50) in a tense finish to the Maiden Handicap (1400m).
Ryan, who is attending the Magic Millions yearling sales at the Gold Coast, paid tribute to his staff after Heron’s breakthrough at only her third start.
“I’ve been away for eight or nine days, and virtually training my team over the phone, so I have great faith in our staff,” he said.
“They have done a terrific job.”
Heron is raced by a ladies’ syndicate headed by well-known owner Christine Cook, and fetched $200,000 at the 2023 Inglis Classic yearling sale.
“I said to Christine one day: ‘What do I have to do to get a horse from you’,” Ryan said.
“She said to ask, so I did. We looked at a number of yearlings the first year and came up empty. We weren’t going to buy just for the sake of it."
“This Hellbent filly was to our liking the next year, and I’m thrilled to be training her for Christine and her fellow owners.”
Ryan did have prior concerns about Heron handling a heavy track at Nowra, and was pleased to see an upgrade from a Heavy 10 to 8 when the fourth race came around.
“I trialled her twice back last June on heavy tracks, and she wasn’t comfortable at all,” Ryan said.
“Heron has been raw, and the penny is just starting to drop with her. She is a big, strong filly and improving all the time.”
Ryan’s previous winner was Heaven Bound at Kembla Grange on November 5, and she has since been one of his nine subsequent placings.
Heron is one of the last foals of the Al Samer mare Ibis, who was retired from breeding on New Year’s Eve.
HOOFNOTE: Ryan has secured two yearlings at the Magic Millions, and is eyeing another when the sales resume tomorrow. Story by John Curtis, 12 January, 2025.
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