Trainer Gerald Ryan has confirmed that Skyhook will not be backing up in the Epsom Handicap, even if he triumphs in the Group 2 $300,000 Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday.
The striking chestnut, Skyhook, who made a brilliant return in the Theo Marks Stakes earlier this month, carries the 58kg topweight for the Shannon Stakes.
Since the race’s introduction in 1977, only the Neville Begg-trained Dalmacia in 1982 has achieved the rare double of winning both the Shannon Stakes and the Epsom Handicap.
Skyhook is currently rated at $26 in the early betting for the Group 1 $1.5 million Epsom Handicap (1600m), but Ryan stated the four-year-old colt will not be running at Royal Randwick on October 3.
The strategy for Ryan and training partner Sterling Alexiou is to have Skyhook in prime condition for the Group 1 $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Royal Randwick on October 31.
“The plan is to run Skyhook in the Shannon then most likely go to the Silver Eagle (October 17),” Ryan said.
“We might even throw him in a nomination and see what the King Charles (III Stakes, October 17) looks like.
“After the Shannon, there’s three weeks to the Silver Eagle or the King Charles, which is worth a lot of money.
“I don’t think he would win it (King Charles) but if he is going to the Golden Eagle (October 31) he needs a run beforehand.”
Ryan added that Skyhook has trained on exceptionally well since his impressive comeback win in the Theo Marks Stakes earlier this month.
“He has come through the race ‘terrific’ and he has worked superbly,” he revealed.
Ryan and Alexiou had considered the Group 3 $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on October 10 as a potential race for Skyhook, but they have the in-form General Salute being prepared for that event.
General Salute also resumed with an impressive victory in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) last Saturday.
In other stable news, Ryan revealed that the talented filly Chilly Girl is out of contention for the Group 1 $750,000 Flight Stakes (1600m) on Epsom Day.
Chilly Girl, a winner of The Rosebud earlier this spring, finished fourth in Bangkok Hottie’s Tea Rose Stakes last Saturday. Ryan indicated the filly would not be pushed out to 1600m for the Flight Stakes.
“We will look for a suitable race over a shorter distance for Chilly Girl or possibly even give her a break,” Ryan said. “She could even go to a race like The Sunlight at the Gold Coast in January.”
Punters can find competitive racing odds for the Shannon Stakes at various betting markets.
