Trainer Sara Ryan is excited to have gifted Matcha Latte back racing after a tendon injury looked to have ended his career

There was a time trainer Sara Ryan thought Matcha Latte would never race again after a severe injury but the talented gelding is back and ready fire in the Cameron Handicap at Newcastle.

There were genuine fears Matcha Latte would never race again but his trainer Sara Ryan now believes her lightly-raced talent is ready to recapture his best in his first start for more than 500 days at Newcastle on Friday.

Matcha Latte showed plenty of promise early in his career when he was trained by Mark Newnham before the Group 1 winning conditioner left Australia to continue his career in Hong Kong.

The smart son of Maurice finished fourth in the Spring Champion Stakes in 2022 and was runner-up in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes in his only start for Ryan in April of 2023.

Matcha Latte resumes a winner and looks to be in for a nice prep! 💛❤️@tomo_sherry with a lovely ride for @mark_mnracing. pic.twitter.com/xkoSf79NJu

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 10, 2022

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But his racing career went pear-shaped when he suffered a tendon injury as Ryan was preparing him for a crack at the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap later that winter.

He has been off the scene ever since but could thrust himself back into spring carnival contention with a bold return in the Group 3 $250,000 Cameron Handicap (1500m).

“He has come back enormous so I am very excited to get him to the races,” Ryan said.

“He did a tendon when we were setting him up for the Stradbroke which was unfortunate and we honestly never thought we would get him back to the races.

“To have him back this far is incredible.”

Ryan accepted in both the Cameron Handicap and Group 3 $250,000 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Royal Randwick with Matcha Latte but a testing draw in the latter made deciding which race easier.

The son of Maurice could claim eligibility for this year’s The Big Dance if he can run top two in the Cameron, where he has been supported from $11 into $8 with Regan Bayliss booked to ride.

“We haven’t gone easy on him and have put as much work in him as we can in him,” Ryan said.

“With such a high benchmark, he was always going to have to step out in competitive races straight up.

“He has had a few exhibition gallops and a few trials so we haven’t missed him.

“It’s going to be every race at a time with him to make sure the leg stays stable but he is a very nice horse and if he comes back anything close to what he was last prep, the options are endless for him.”

Money From The Sky wins the Bathurst Cup for @sara_r_racing! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/KwPXsyRCP9

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 15, 2024

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Money From The Sky has already given Ryan a chance to defend her Big Dance crown in November after the gelding snared eligibility into the field by winning last Sunday’s Bathurst Cup.

Ryan won the race last year with Attractable, who won’t race this spring after suffering a setback, but is keen for Money From The Sky

“He ran a career best race at Bathurst by three to four lengths which was fantastic to see,” Ryan said.

“He actually had one horse behind him which I think is the first time in his career that’s happened.

“It’s exciting so we will map out a plan for the Big Dance and hopefully Matcha Latte is in the picture for that too.”

Money From The Sky is a $51 chance in Big Dance betting.

Originally published as Trainer Sara Ryan is excited to have gifted Matcha Latte back racing after a tendon injury looked to have ended his career