Wyong, Sapphire Coast previews: Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou have their sights on a couple of maiden victories

A pair of handy three-year-olds an provide trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou with a couple of wins when they head to Wyong on Thursday.

Trainers Gerald Ryan (right) and Sterling Alexiou are hoping it's third time lucky for Dare To Fly at Wyong. Picture: Grant Guy

Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou learnt a lot from the defeat of Dare To Fly last start and will use that knowledge to plot a victory when they head up to the Central Coast.

Dare To Fly jumped quickly from barrier three to lead and was pressured before finishing sixth behind La Roja at Warwick Farm on January 27.

Prior to that, the daughter of Trapeze Artist was impressive beating Matera in her Rosehill trial before a handy third to Royal Commodore on debut on the Kensington on January 15.

“I think we rode her too positively at Warwick Farm the other day,” Alexiou said.

“The favourite (Bremel) missed the kick and Tim (Clark) let her take up the race in front but she probably isn’t strong enough at the moment to do it at both ends and I think she also appreciates something to follow.

"I thought he was a good each way chance "

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“The track raced pretty fast the other day and just told on her. She didn’t quite stretch out as well as she can.

“All things considered, it was a good run in that sense.

“We will probably see her ridden a bit quitter this week if circumstances permit.”

Alexiou is also hoping the predicted rain has arrived prior to the meeting as it would boost the three-year-old’s chances in the Maiden Handicap (1100m) for fillies and mares.

“If the rain arrives, it will certainly work in her favour. I think she is a filly who enjoys getting her toe in the ground,” he said.

“It doesn’t look a bad race on paper and I would imagine she will be competitive and in the money.”

Alexiou is looking forward to Written Gold making his debut in the Super Maiden Plate (1350m).

The son of Written By heads to the races off a smart trial win at Rosehill where he tracked the leader before taking an inside run to beat Shirvington and Little Girl.

“It was good to see him trial in the fashion that he did.” Alexiou said.

“His past few preparations he has been a colt and the owners made the decision to geld him and it has done him the world of good in terms of his attitude.

“He used to be a keen bean at home and wanted to work upside down.

Nice 2nd trial for this unraced 2YO.

Written Gold (2c Written By x Five Card Charlie) for @GRyanRacing
$70k buy for City Gold Bloodstock from @widdenstud at @mmsnippets Adelaide.

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• Apollo Stakes final field, barrier draw for Saturday

“He seems to have turned the corner. He is a lot more tractable now.

“We are looking forward to him finally stepping out at the races.

“He finds an ideal race to make his debut although I would have liked to have seen him draw out a little bit.

“He is quite a big horse and not always great into stride.

“First-up over 1350m is a little question mark but he will run well and improve of it.”

Ryan and Alexiou’s other runner for the day is Predicting in the Maiden Handicap (1100m).

The three-year-old son of Shalaa settled seventh and held his position to the line on debut behind Bent As Hell over 900m at Newcastle on January 25 and Alexiou feels he has improved from the experience.

“Getting out a little further in trip will definitely help him. He is still quite green and wayward and is still learning his craft,” he said.

“He should improve enough off that first run to see him finish in the first five or six and if he does everything right, we will probably look to get him back to country grade and knock a maiden over with him.

“On what we have seen at home, he is definitely showing us that he has got a maiden win in him shortly.”

OSBORNE LOOKING FOR DUO TO CONTINUE THEIR WINNING FORM

Owner breeder and trainer Neil Osborne always knew Friskee Frog had his fair share of ability but the gelding has just taken time to put it all together.

After placing in six of his first 12 starts, the Friskee Frog finally got the monkey off his back with an all-the-way win at Goulburn last start.

“He has been knocking on the door to break his maiden for a little while and I was good to see him break through,” said Osborne.

“He has been a slow maturing horse and he is just starting to come into his own now. He’s a big, gangly type and is now starting to putting it all together.

The son of Kermadec tackles the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m) with apprentice Glenn Cahill again aboard and Osborne sees no reason why he can’t make it two in-a-row in.

“I think he is every chance to go back-to-back,” he said.

Helluva Teen with a convincing win at Orange! pic.twitter.com/ylxSOw3pde

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“He is going their off the back of a nice win which has done his confidence a world of good and he’s got a good gate. I expect him to be up there nice and handy or poke along front again himself.

“In hindsight, I probably should have left him in at Goulburn on Tuesday because I think he would have beaten the horse who won the race.

“Anyway, I can’t change that but I’m really happy with him and I think he can nearly win again.”

Osborne also feels Helluva Teen can keep her terrific form going and make it a hat-trick of wins when she contests the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m).

The three-year took benefit from her first-up third at Queanbeyan and led all-the-way for a big maiden win at Orange and followed with a victory at Cowra.

“She has always shown good ability too,” he said.

“She was a bit stiff in her first race start and the first time she had seen a polytrack at the Gold Coast when she finished a close second behind a very good horse who then went to Hong Kong.

“Things just didn’t go right at her next two starts. She reared over in the mounting yard at Newcastle and she was just over the top at Grafton.

“I gave her a spell and she has come back in terrific order.

“Barrier two is ideal for her. I think she is a great chance to win again.”