Trainer Nick Ryan has been looking for a reason to spell Mahamedeis, but has been unable to find one.

For that reason, Mahamedeis will contest the Ranvet Handicap (2040m) at The Valley on Saturday, the gelding’s 11th start of the campaign.

Mahamedeis started his current preparation in February over 1400m at Flemington and it has included a trip to Brisbane for a potential Winter Carnival campaign which was abandoned after one run.

The gelding has also had a school over hurdles at Cranbourne and in the ten starts he has had this time in has registered two wins.

He scored over 2000m at Caulfield in April, before the trip north to Brisbane, while he is coming off a last start victory over Saturday’s course and distance on July 31.

It was the same race Mahamedeis won 12 months previously and Ryan has elected to go to the 2040m on Saturday, rather than wait an extra two weeks for the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m), also at The Valley.

“He’s an old marvel,” Ryan said.

“He had a week in the paddock after his latest win and he looks super.

“You look for reasons to fault him, but I can’t, and he galloped well at The Valley on Tuesday to say he’s in fantastic order.

“He’s sound. He’s eating the house down. He’s a happy horse that is in a really good place at the moment.

“And when he’s happy, the trainer’s happy.”

One concern for Ryan is the race shape on Saturday following the scratching of Buckhurst.

The Robert Hickmott-trained galloper set a nice rolling tempo in Mahamedeis’ latest win and Ryan is concerned there may not be the same sort of pace on Saturday.

“He just needs a bit of speed on in his races and with his racing style if it goes his way, he’s a very honest, a very genuine horse,” Ryan said.

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au