Tamworth preview: Co-trainer Gerald Ryan is looking for Green Shadows to lock in his Big Dance place in the Tamworth Cup

Trainer Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou are keen to target the $3 million Big Dance with Green Shadows again and are chasing an early place in the race through the Tamworth Cup.

Green Shadows is chasing a first-up win in the Tamworth Cup. Picture: Bradley Photos

The Big Dance last November was an afterthought for Green Shadows according to co-trainer Gerald Ryan but it’s at the forefront of his mind this year.

Ryan and co-trainer Sterling Alexiou have targeted the Tamworth Cup (1400m), which carries Big Dance eligibility, as an ideal starting point for Green Shadows who races extremely well first-up.

“The Big Dance will be the plan for him this year. He has to get through this race first and we will see how he goes,” said Ryan.

“About six weeks ago we decided to target the Tamworth Cup first-up with him.

“It would be nice if he could book his place in the Big Dance now and we can make a plan to have him spot on in November.”

.@GRyanRacing make it back-to-back Goulburn Cup wins! 🏆

Green Shadows wins the Goulburn Cup with @RachelK11 on board 🙌 pic.twitter.com/E7LIdR5Q91

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 25, 2024

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Green Shadows scored a first-up win in a Benchmark 78 at Warwick Farm on April 1 last year and progressed to winning a Midway at Randwick before capturing the Goulburn Cup at his eighth start for the preparation on August 25.

He then had to stay up until November 5 for the $3 million feature.

“The Big Dance was an afterthought with him last campaign. He won the Goulburn Cup at his eighth start and was over the top by the time he got to Randwick three runs later,” he said.

“He still ran an honest race. He drew bad and was out wide all-the-way.

“He spelled well and I reckon he grew which is strange at his age.

“He has comeback well, his work has been good and his trials have been solid without his blinkers on.”

He will try and replicate the success of Big Dance winner Gringotts who qualified for the race by winning the Tamworth Cup.

Inverell trainer Todd Payne has his stable star and Country Championship Final runner-up Lisztomania in the Cup as well as the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

“Tamworth looks more tempting as the rail is out nine metres at Randwick which doesn’t help but he does race so well there,” Payne said.

“He hasn’t missed a place in six starts there and that’s what makes it hard not to look at that race.”

Lisztomania has drawn wide in gate 14 in the Tamworth Cup, the same barrier he had when a close second in the Country Championship Qualifier.

Never doubt yourself!

A finish for the ages in the Country Championships Final, and Know Thyself wins it by a whisker for @Paulmessara and @LGavranich with @Aaronbullock90 aboard! 👏@aus_turf_club | @WorldPoolpic.twitter.com/GPLIwD8z0Q

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025

“It doesn’t really matter too much with him because he will be coming down the middle of the track anyway,” he said.

“He will go for a spell after this and our next mission is The Kosciuszko and we will go into that fresh.”

Payne also has three other runners for the day including Desert Cougar, who is a half-sister to Lisztomania, in the Maiden Plate (1000m).

The daughter of Capitalist only had one run for Payne at the end of last campaign when fifth to Sharpen The Knives at Armidale on December 8.

“She ran a handy race and we put her away,” he said.

“She trialled well the other day and I’m very happy with her going into this race. I think she is a chance.”

Payne also saddles up Celestialconqueror in the Super Maiden (1400m).

“He’s a nice horse but will want further as he gets into his preparation,” Payne said.

“The 1400m first-up is a good starting point for him and the blinkers go on. He’s worked in them and is a lot more focused.”

Takemine will back up in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m) following strong closing second over 1100m at Armidale last week.

“She is dropping back to 1000m and will get back but the last time she raced at the track and distance, she rattled home to be beaten a nostril,” he said.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

It’s been a long and frustrating preparation with Duped By Spin but trainer Craig Widdison is hoping she can pick up a well-earned win when she crosses the border.

Duped By Spin started her campaign at Wagga on November 1 and had a couple of hiccups along the way but found some consistency in the past two months with consecutive placings before contesting last week’s Albury Cup.

“She’s had a fairly long preparation but nothing has gone right for her,” said Widdison.

“Every time we thought we had he ready, something went wrong then her last few runs had been good up until the Cup last week.

“We were hoping to get to the fence and have a cheap run but that didn’t eventuate.”

The five-year-old finished second last behind Matusalem in the Listed event but will appreciate a drop back in grade when she backs-up in the Benchmark 82 Handicap (2000m).

County Kilkenny wins the Albury Mile, the @tpd_racing stable make it back-to-back Albury Mile wins! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/xdOnfznrbw

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 20, 2025

Prior to that, she was second in the Tom Patton Cup at Wagga, second in the Albury Mile behind County Kilkenny and a close fourth to Star Buyer in the Gundagai Cup.

“Her run in the Albury Cup was good on a heavy track behind County Kilkenny who grows a leg on the wet,” he said

“In the Gundagai Cup, she was left in front and fair way out and just got swamped late. She is a better chaser.

“She has taken no harm out of the Albury Cup and this looks a nice race for her.

“Nick Souquet is back on as well. He knows her quite well and has had some luck on her.

“She deserves another win and hopefully she can get that here.”

Widdison’s other runner is Sister Shay who is looking for a breakthrough win in the Maiden Handicap (1500m) after placings runner-up in her three runs for Widdison following a debut seventh at Kyneton for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.

“She has been great with three seconds in-a-row but it’s also been a bit hard to take,” he said.

“I have thrown the blinkers on her this week in the hope they can help her find an extra length or so.

“We have also gone with a claim this week, not that Wardy (Brendan Ward) has done anything wrong.

“We just wanted to try something different and that two kilos might just make the difference.”