Nick Ryan’s association with Victoria Derby Day goes back to his time in the saddle, although those memories are far from joyous. As a young champion apprentice, he pushed himself to make 47.5kg to ride Alinghi in what is now the Empire Rose Stakes, only to be beaten narrowly as a $1.70 favourite — the closest he ever came to claiming a Group 1 during his brief riding career.
Despite riding in Derbies elsewhere, the feature staying test on the opening day of Melbourne Cup week at Flemington eluded him as a jockey. Now, as a trainer, the opportunity to leave a mark arrives again.
On Saturday, Ryan will send out Highvol and Miewa in the 2500m Victoria Derby, marking his third year in a row contesting the race, following Red Aces’ sixth-place performance last spring.
“It’s my third runner and for a small stable, it’s a good effort by the team,” Ryan said.
“We went out a few years ago to look for young horses to get out to a trip.
“We had Red Aces last year win the Vase (at Moonee Valley) then ran sixth in the Derby and this year we have two runners that are in form and look like live chances.”
Miewa arrives through the traditional Derby lead-ups — winning at 1600m at Moonee Valley before placing in both the Super Impose Stakes (1800m) and the Caulfield Classic (2000m).
“He’s had the perfect prep,” Ryan said.
“He’s gone the Super Impose, the Caulfield Classic and into the Derby.
“He is a get back and run on horse. He’s drawn barrier eight and if he can use that and be as close as he can without being out of his comfort zone, that would be good.
“In a Derby, you have to get the first half right and be mindful of running the trip.”
Highvol, meanwhile, looked like a Guineas-bound colt after winning the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington and again shortly after. But his campaign direction changed when his return run suggested he would be stronger as distances increased.
“He ran so well in the Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley with the blinkers on and he beat home Vinrock that night, we elected to go to the Guineas,” Ryan said.
“He and (Derby favourite) Observer are the only two horses out of the Guineas running here.
He drew wide in the Guineas, and he was back and it was an insignificant run, but then he did a good job in the Geelong Classic going from the mile to the 2200 metres.
“I’m surprised how well he came through it, and he’s come on from it and can improve again.”
Miewa profiles as the stayer on pedigree, being by Maurice — the sire of Hitotsu, winner of this race in 2021 — while Highvol’s breeding is less proven at the trip.
“They’re both very well,” Ryan said.
“They’re both good in the feed bin, their bloods are good, really a mirror image of each other.
“All I can say is Meiwa is the class horse with the pedigree, but Highvol wouldn’t shock me either.”
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