Trainer Gerald Ryan has indicated that Skyhook will not compete in the Epsom Handicap, even if successful in the Group 2 $300,000 Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday.
The striking chestnut, Skyhook, who made a triumphant return in the Theo Marks Stakes earlier this month, is assigned the top weight of 58kg for the Shannon Stakes.
Since its inception in 1977, only one horse, Dalmacia, trained by Neville Begg in 1982, has managed to secure both the Shannon Stakes and the Epsom Handicap.
Skyhook is currently priced at $26 in the early markets for the Group 1 $1.5 million Epsom Handicap (1600m), but Ryan confirmed the four-year-old colt will bypass the prestigious Royal Randwick meeting on October 3.
Instead, Ryan and his training partner Sterling Alexiou are focusing on preparing Skyhook to be at his absolute best 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 stated.
“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 further commented that Skyhook has maintained his excellent form since his impressive comeback victory in the Theo Marks Stakes at the start of 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 target for Skyhook; however, they are instead preparing the in-form General Salute for that event.
General Salute also commenced his campaign with a decisive win in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) last Saturday.
In other stable news, Ryan disclosed that the talented filly Chilly Girl will not be participating in 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, and Ryan indicated that the filly would not be extended 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 looking to get involved can explore the latest racing odds at leading Australian betting sites.
