Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
When Blake Ryan launched his training career at Hawkesbury 18 months ago, he sent an email to prominent breeder-owner Matthew Sandblom asking if he would put a horse in his care.
Sandblom did – and the young trainer understandably took great delight in repaying him by winning at Dubbo today with Apple Cubed , a youngster he described as a "uber professional".
With Matthew Palmer aboard, Apple Cubed ($2.40 favorite), racing under Sandblom's Horse Ventures, broke through at only his third start in the Maiden Plate (1015m), giving his four rivals a trouncing.
Apple Cubed had almost four lengths to spare at the finish from Hellivit ($3.60) and $61 rank outsider Soozie Maree.
"I asked Matthew if he would give me a horse to train, and Newgate Farm's Henry Field gave me a good endorsement," Ryan said en route home this evening.
"I am very appreciative of both of them for their support."
Sandblom paid $20,000 for Apple Cubed at last year's Inglis Classic yearling sale Highway Session, and the colt has repaid that, earning $20,425 including a $5625 BOBS bonus from today's Dubbo victory.
Apple Cubed is a son of Rubick, who won three (including the 2014 Group 2 Schillaci Stakes, 1100m at Caulfield) from only eight starts before being retired to stud.
And that's where Ryan believes the colt's owner decided to give him the horse to prepare.
"Dad (leading Rosehill Gardens trainer Gerald Ryan) trained Rubick, and I rode him work," Ryan explained.
"Both Dad's now co-trainer Sterling Alexiou and myself took him to Melbourne a couple of times.
"Rubick won the Blue Diamond Prelude and then finished fourth in the Blue Diamond as a two-year-old, and later in the year won the Schillachi as an early three-year-old."
Ryan said Apple Cubed was a "uber professional" from the day he entered his Hawkesbury stable.
"He does everything right, and is tough," he said. "He is unbelievable; made of leather.
"Apple Cubed has had two trips to Dubbo and one to Scone, and always comes home and eats up.
"They're only two-year-olds once, and I'll look for another suitable race for him before he turns three on August 1."
. Ryan has done a terrific job in his first full season of training, with today's success being his seventh (and ninth overall), after scoring with his debut starter Divine Future at Orange on February 20 last year.
