Trainer Gerald Ryan hoping Sanctified can anoint himself as an Inglis Millennium prospect

Sanctified may not be a natural two-year-old but he has shown trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou more than enough talent ahead of his debut at Rosehill.

Co-trainer Gerald Ryan (right) and Sterling Alexiou are looking forward to seeing promising colt Sanctified make his debut at Rosehill. Getty Images

Trainer Gerald Ryan concedes Sanctified is not a “natural running two-year-old” but hopes his unraced colt can still put himself in the frame for some lucrative juvenile riches at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Sanctified will make his debut on home turf when the son of Super Seth lines up in the Chandon 2YO Handicap (1100m).

Ryan, who trains alongside Sterling Alexiou, is hoping the first-up assignment could be a stepping stone to next month’s $2m Inglis Millennium (1100m) on February 8 at Royal Randwick.

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“You never know until you race them but he has shown nice ability and he is probably not a natural running two-year-old,” Ryan said.

“He will get better as he gets a bit older but that’s an old cliche.

“I think he should be competitive.

“If he runs well on Saturday, he gets in the Inglis Millennium and that will be his next start.”

Sanctified was purchased for $260,000 at last year’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, making him eligible for the two-year-old Millennium.

Sanctified showed plenty of promise winning his first trial on home turf last month over 900m before finishing fifth over the same track and trip on January 7.

Ryan believes the second hit out was a valuable learning experience.

“In the second trial, we just tried to teach him to get in behind them because in his first trial and his jumpout, he was always in front,” Ryan said.

“We just wanted to get him in there with a trail.

“He was good and Tyler (Schiller) didn’t do heaps on him. He just sat on him.”

High Blue Sea wins second up and @nashhot earns a treble! @GRyanRacingpic.twitter.com/dj5o2RvD2A

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 28, 2024

Bookies rate Sanctified ($6) among the leading contenders for the opening event where he is set to face early Golden Slipper fancy Wodeton, which is a clear $1.80 favourite with James McDonald aboard.

Last-start winners High Blue Sea and Fly Scotty Fly will ensure Ryan and Alexiou aren’t lacking for firepower on home turf.

High Blue Sea has come back in top order this preparation after following up a first-up placing with a win over 1400m at Randwick last start.

The son of Merchant Navy is a $4.20 chance to make it back-to-back successes in the TAB Benchmark 78 (1500m).

“High Blue Sea is going great,” Ryan said.

“He has come back in good this time and the firmer tracks help.

“I had a doubt at 1400m with him but he ticked that box the other day so we where are you going to go with him.

“There was a 1600m at Wyong last week or try him at 1500m this week back in his first Benchmark grade.”

Fly Scotty Fly leads all the way in the Wyong opener! 💪@GRyanRacingpic.twitter.com/6vfpvj7G0l

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 31, 2024

Fly Scotty Fly is only in his first racing preparation and steps up in grade in the Precise Air Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m).

After failing to beat a runner home in his first start at Warwick Farm on soft ground, the son of Brazen Beau made rapid improvement.

He broke his maiden with a stylish victory at Wyong last start.

“I had him in a race on Wednesday but he gets 3.5kg less there on Saturday, against his own age,” Ryan said.

“I didn’t think he could win on Wednesday but I thought he could run well on Saturday, not saying he will win.

“He has his home track and has trialled good at home a couple of times.

“He is a nice strong horse that is improving.”

Ryan and Alexiou-trained colt Blitzburg was the second emergency for Friday’s rescheduled Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast.

The son of Snitzel has now been scratched and will instead line up in the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 1.

Originally published as Trainer Gerald Ryan hoping Sanctified can anoint himself as an Inglis Millennium prospect