Gerald Ryan admits Good Hotspur could fine Max Lees Classic too short

Good Hotspur was set to line up at Rosehill Gardens on Wednesday but trainer Gerald Ryan was forced into a change of plans.

Promising first starter Good Hotspur should be hitting the line as good as anything in Saturday’s Max Lees Classic but trainer Gerald Ryan is concerned the 900m scamper will be still be too short for the race favourite at Newcastle.

Ryan and co-trainer Sterling Alexiou hadn’t planned on racing at Newcastle but their hand was forced after Racing NSW scrapped Wednesday’s two-year-old event when there was only five acceptors.

It left several stables in the lurch with Ryan and Alexiou opting for the back up plan over an unsuitable sprint trip on The Hunter day.

“There’s no doubt it will be too short for him,” Ryan said. “I would much prefer it would be 1200m to 900m.”

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Good Hotspur was an equal $4 favourite with TAB alongside Bjorn Baker’s debutant A Bar In Paris.

Ryan and Alexiou have given Good Hotspur a pair of trials in the lead up to his debut with the son of Calyx winning his latest effort over 900m at Rosehill Gardens on November 4.

Good Hotspur has continued to improve throughout his maiden preparation.

“He is a nice enough horse and has improved as he’s gone along,” Ryan said.

“He improved from one trial to the next and held his own.

“I think he isn’t a natural running two-year-old, he is going to be horse that will balance up and get home.

“They will be probably too quick for him but he will be strong to the line.”

Good Hotspur, trained by @GRyanRacing, wins a two-year-old trial at Rosehill on Monday. The Calyx colt ran down Telling (by Graff) with Blitzburg (Snitzel) in third. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/gyCVFoeUIV

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) November 3, 2024

• Majestic partnership eyes Newcastle feature

Tyler Schiller will pilot Good Hotspur in his maiden start in a race where every two-year-old is having their debut.

Local trainers David Atkins and Kris Lees will both saddle up contenders in the race named after the latter’s father.

Lees has Rustemo ($15) and Gobi Desert ($8), purchased for $600,000 by Yulong, in the juvenile feature while Atkins saddles up trial performer Buffalo ($6).

The Max Lees Classic kicks off The Hunter day card.

Originally published as Gerald Ryan admits Good Hotspur could fine Max Lees Classic too short