Ryan Jim
Race Images Palmerston North
Exciting sprinting talent Ryan Jim has booked his ticket to the Hawkes Bay Spring Carnival next season with a stunning performance that saw him register his second career victory at Hastings on the weekend.
That is, however, on the proviso that trainer John Morell's phone doesn't ring with an offshore offer too good to refuse over the next few weeks.
Morell admitted he had fielded plenty of calls after Saturday's victory with the reality of selling the promising Align gelding a real prospect.
"I'm just a plain old dairy farmer and with the payout situation in that industry at present, coupled with what we race for here in New Zealand, we'd be mad not to look at what they are offering for him," he admitted.
"Mind you we're not going to give him away so if he doesn't get sold we know we have a pretty handy horse to take back to Hastings in the spring."
Morell went into Saturday's event with a degree of confidence after son-in-law Mark Phillips reported back following an impressive mid-week track gallop at Te Rapa.
"I said to Mark after he rode him during the week I thought he was the best mover we'd had in the stable for quite a while and that included his older brother Ryan Mark," he said.
"He agreed and said he had taken plenty out of his first run so we thought he'd go okay on the weekend.
"We were keen to see how he would handle the trip away and whether it would be worth taking him back there in the spring. I guess he answered that although he was a little lucky to get a run in the straight.
"Hayden (Tinsley) rode him nicely and said he did it pretty well so if he's not sold then I guess we'll be heading back there with him."
Morell also reported that Railway Stakes winner Ryan Mark was enjoying the first stages off a new preparation that will see him aimed at further Group One targets next season.
"He's been out at Kim Blair's place at Raglan beach for a week or so now and has been enjoying himself out there," he said.
"We're just going to take it slowly with him but he's kicking and bucking around the place so he must be feeling pretty good at this early stage."– NZ Racing Desk
That is, however, on the proviso that trainer John Morell's phone doesn't ring with an offshore offer too good to refuse over the next few weeks.
Morell admitted he had fielded plenty of calls after Saturday's victory with the reality of selling the promising Align gelding a real prospect.
"I'm just a plain old dairy farmer and with the payout situation in that industry at present, coupled with what we race for here in New Zealand, we'd be mad not to look at what they are offering for him," he admitted.
"Mind you we're not going to give him away so if he doesn't get sold we know we have a pretty handy horse to take back to Hastings in the spring."
Morell went into Saturday's event with a degree of confidence after son-in-law Mark Phillips reported back following an impressive mid-week track gallop at Te Rapa.
"I said to Mark after he rode him during the week I thought he was the best mover we'd had in the stable for quite a while and that included his older brother Ryan Mark," he said.
"He agreed and said he had taken plenty out of his first run so we thought he'd go okay on the weekend.
"We were keen to see how he would handle the trip away and whether it would be worth taking him back there in the spring. I guess he answered that although he was a little lucky to get a run in the straight.
"Hayden (Tinsley) rode him nicely and said he did it pretty well so if he's not sold then I guess we'll be heading back there with him."
Morell also reported that Railway Stakes winner Ryan Mark was enjoying the first stages off a new preparation that will see him aimed at further Group One targets next season.
"He's been out at Kim Blair's place at Raglan beach for a week or so now and has been enjoying himself out there," he said.
"We're just going to take it slowly with him but he's kicking and bucking around the place so he must be feeling pretty good at this early stage."– NZ Racing Desk
