Express Delivers At Caulfield
Express Pass winning the Evergreen Turf Handicap (1100m) at Caulfield on Memsie Stakes Day.
Story by Todd Blum
It was a big day for syndicator’s at Caulfield with the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) being taken out by the Grand Syndicates owned Behemoth (All Too Hard) who showed there is still room at the top of racing for everyone, not just the elite colt syndicates or Sheiks. Earlier on the card the Express Racing pin-up horse, Express Pass, also showed his class when victorious in the Evergreen Turf Handicap (1100m).
Rhys McLeod, in the saddle for two wins from as many runs this preparation, was able to sit out the back and not use any gas early as the pair settled perfectly at the back end of the field before showing his acceleration to go from eighth at the 400m to get past a handy field of horses.
Express Racing Director, Darcy Judd, was full of praise for horse and rider as well as trainer, Nick Ryan, who is enjoying having some success with.
“It is excellent to see the success Nick is having as a trainer as we have been mates for some time and I came to him 18 months or so years ago and said I want to give syndication a crack and he said excellent let’s get it sorted,” Judd said.
“To have a horse such as Express Pass kick us off you couldn’t ask for a better start and also rapt for the group involved, they got in at the ground level and it’s nice to repay a bit of faith.
“He certainly is an exciting horse this fella and I don’t think we are done with him yet, there is some more fun to be had with him I think.”
Fresh off being awarded the Colin Anderson Rising Star Award for Trainer’s based in Victoria, Nick Ryan headed to Caulfield with two strong chances in Express Pass and Sircconi, who ran second a nose in the Listed News Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) later in the day.
“Juddy came to me a year and a half ago and you know he’s very passionate, young bloke that loves his racing and all these Express boys they love their racing and with Express Pass there’s no better way to kick-start,” Ryan said.
“It’s been excellent to get the results for people who have been prepared to back me in and it’s pleasing to train for plenty of good people.”
A decision on where the four-year-old son of Wandjina heads next will be made in the coming days as there are plenty of options going forward. The win takes the $38,000 purchase to over $125,000 in prize money.
Rapid Ruby (Rubick) is also not far off coming back into the Nick Ryan Racing stables so there is plenty to look forward to for the Express Racing team.
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