Gerald Ryan is not fully committed to a Golden Slipper start for Blitzburg, despite the colt’s impressive all-the-way win in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill.
Blitzburg ($4.80), the most experienced runner in Saturday’s seven-horse field, showed a strong burst of speed at the top of the straight and was never challenged, securing victory by 1-1/4 lengths over Hillier ($20). Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained stablemate Peleus ($15) finished another half-length behind in third.
While Ryan is not dismissing a potential run in the Golden Slipper, he believes a race like the Black Opal Stakes in Canberra may be a more realistic target for Blitzburg.
“He’s not a Slipper horse. I think he is a rung below,” Ryan said.
“But it is the Golden Slipper, he is only two once, so we will see how he ends up.
“The Black Opal might be his go.
“We will just pick our races with him and if he is flying at Slipper time we might go there.”
Ryan had already earmarked the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) as an ideal target for Blitzburg after the colt’s debut win at Newcastle in November. In the meantime, Blitzburg traveled to Queensland, finishing in a place at Eagle Farm, before missing out on a spot as second emergency for the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast.
Blitzburg was treated for a minor cough, which kept him from contesting the postponed 2YO Classic. However, the colt thrived after returning to Sydney.
“We couldn’t run on Friday night (seven-day rule) as I had treated him on the (previous) Saturday morning,” Ryan explained.
“The stewards let me scratch him and he has not missed a beat since he’s been back at home.
“I’ve been telling everyone for days he would run ‘huge’.”
Tyler Schiller, who rode Blitzburg in the Canonbury Stakes, was not surprised by the colt’s strong performance, having seen him work well during the week.
“He’s not a very big horse, so I was just hoping his work didn’t take it out of him too much,” Schiller said.
“He jumped sharp today, he got to dictate. I think that was the main thing. He doesn’t really like horses getting past him and I thought he was very aggressive. When he got challenged, he attacked the line awesome.”
Co-trainer Rob Archibald was also pleased with the performances of the minor placegetters, both of whom were debuting.
“We were hopeful but it was their first start, so you are never really sure how they would go, but both ran very good races,” Archibald said.