This Saturday marks the third running of the $1 million The Hunter at Newcastle racecourse and if the early nominations are anything to go by, it is set to be another stirring contest over the 1300m.
Among the hopefuls are Everest fourth placegetter Lost And Running, last year’s winner Sweet Deal and the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Standout.
Standout has been a very consistent conveyance this time in work with placings in the Group 2 Premiere, the Group 3 Sydney Stakes and the $1 million Classique Legend Stakes taking his earnings over the $850,000 mark, and co-trainer Ryan believes it is testament to the massive prize money that is on offer in New South Wales.
“He’s won $400,000 this time in and he hasn’t won a race,” Ryan said.
“It’s all about the firm tracks, it makes a huge difference to him.”
Still being an entire, the five-year-old Exceed And Excel progeny has stallion potential with his best win to date coming in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes. Ryan explains that there has already been interest, but connections are happy to stay at the races for the moment.
“They were offered money last year for him, but it was nowhere near enough,” Ryan said.
“They pay more than that for yearlings. (Owner) George (Altomonte) is quite happy to race him and keep him going.”
Another nomination for the Ryan and Alexiou camp at Newcastle this Saturday is the consistent and well-travelled Cisco Bay, who is lining up in the Benchmark 78 over 1600m.
The So You Think gelding has had no less than four trainers in his 40-start career, but has settled in nicely at Ryan and Alexiou’s Rosehill stables.
“Cisco Bay is a very honest horse coming along,” Ryan said.
“Since he went down to Nowra and won the Nowra Cup he hasn’t run a bad race.”
Their other representative will be Amica who resumes in the Benchmark 78 over 1400m. The five-year-old is unplaced in four first-up attempts, and Ryan insists she will be at her best later in the campaign.
“She’s fresh up over 1400m and usually takes a run or two as she gets out over further ground,” Ryan said.
“Whatever she does on Saturday she will improve upon.”