Trainer Nick Ryan has not lost faith in stayer Mahamedeis after his latest defeat and plans to head to Brisbane remain intact.

Mahamedeis may be about to lose his mantle as top dog in the Nick Ryan stable after the win of Dice Roll at Sandown.

That gave the French-bred former Hong Kong galloper the perfect start to his Australian career having won at Caulfield two weeks prior.

Although unbeaten in Australia, Dice Roll still has a way to go before replacing Mahamedeis who is an 11-time winner with more than $1.1 million in the bank.

And despite his last start defeat at Caulfield on April 24 over 2000m, Ryan is pressing ahead to Brisbane for a two-run campaign.

Ryan said Mahamedeis had pulled-up “super” from the run, a week after winning over the same course and distance, but that the race had been run too slow for the gelding.

“The jockey (Rhys McLeod) should have let him stride a little bit instead of restraining him, but I think he was as strong as anything on the line,” Ryan said.

“Around the back he should have been hitting the front and saying ‘catch me if you can’.”

Mahamedeis will head to Brisbane for his next outing.

Ryan is planning to start Mahamedeis in the Group 3 Premiere’s Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 29 and then the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm two weeks later.

“I might give him a hurdle trial on May 14 before we head up there,” Ryan said.

“He’ll have two starts in Brisbane, the Premiere’s Cup and the Brisbane Cup and then return home.

“You then might see him over the sticks.”

Ryan was preparing Mahamedeis for a potential career over jumps last winter.

Mahamedeis had attained his ticket to race over hurdles before winning two flat races in succession, the VOBIS Gold Stayers’ (2394m) at Caulfield then at The Valley over 2040m a week later.

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au