A robust triumph in the Group 3 $250,000 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) has placed Matias squarely in Queensland Derby calculations.
His stable companion Snitzel Dancer had secured the Group 3 Carr Stakes a mere 35 minutes earlier.
Ryan saddled Snitzel for an Oakleigh Plate score before the quick one proceeded to Arrowfield Stud for legendary breeding feats: four Australian Sires Premierships, 27 solo Group 1 triumphs including three Golden Slippers.
At 22, Snitzel departed last year, though Matias and Snitzel Dancer propel him toward a fifth Sires crown, with 15 stakes winners this term (next at 8), over $20.5 million in foal earnings, outpacing The Autumn Sun by $4 million.
“Snitzel is just a freak of a horse,” said Ryan, who now trains in partnership with Sterling Alexiou.
“He was outstanding on the racetrack and a phenomenon at stud – and he’s still throwing stakes winners.”
Snitzel’s latest stakes graduate, $2.70 favourite Matias, posted a persuasive Frank Packer Plate win, a near-length ahead of Providence ($7.50) and half a length clear of third-placed Pictor ($13).
Ryan detailed Matias’s next steps to the Queensland Derby, uniting with Snitzel Dancer en route to the Queensland Oaks for Brisbane winter classics.
“This race was the deciding point, whether he ticked the 2000m box,” Ryan said.
“I know he’s by Snitzel but his first three dams either won or ran a place in the Oaks.
“The Queensland Derby has always been the aim since he won the Grand Prix up there in December.
“I think we will run in the Rough Habit Plate. I know it’s a month between runs, I know he’s a big, gross horse but you can’t overwork him. Then it’ll be a fortnight into the Derby.”
Jockey Nash Rawiller received praise from Ryan for delivering “a beautiful ride” on Matias.
The Frank Packer Plate victory highlighted Matias’s authentic stayer credentials, per Rawiller.
“I don’t know what time they ran (2m 02.43s) but it was a genuinely run race,” Rawiller said.
“My bloke was turned out to perfection. He’s been a horse that’s been building to this now for 12 months.
“You know, I think we just saw the furnished product, the sort of horse we thought he would be from day dot.
“Like I said, it was a genuinely run, staying-type race and he just thrived on that and he loved it.”
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