Trainer Gerald Ryan gets a pre-race confidence boost as High Blue Sea sails to victory

Having a successful association for over 30 years, trainer Gerald Ryan knows when Nash Rawiller is confident, you chances increase and that was the case with High Blue Sea at Randwick.

Nash Rawiller scored his third win for the day with a well-timed ride aboard High Blue Sea at Randwick. Picture: Getty Images

Trainer Gerald Ryan could sense champion jockey Nash Rawiller meant business on High Blue Sea at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

“Before the race, Nash was very confident,’’ Ryan said.

“Nash has been riding winners for me since he was an 18-year-old apprentice so when he comes out confident like that, then you feel better about your chances.’’

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Rawiller, 50, completed a winning treble at the Randwick meeting when he guided High Blue Sea to a powerful win in the Captivant At Kia Ora Handicap (1400m).

High Blue Sea ($5.50) finished too strongly for Bunker Hut ($5) to win by a half length with Starman ($17) four lengths away third.

August Bloom was heavily backed into $3.50 favouritism but failed to make any impression in the straight and ran only seventh.

Ryan said High Blue Sea had “lost his way a bit” through the year but has returned to his best this summer.

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

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 28, 2024

• ‘That is the only way to ride him’: Lloyd’s Disneck masterclass

“He has come back well this preparation,’’ said Ryan, who trains in partnership with Sterling Alexiou.

“We will place him in the right races and he can keep paying his way. He needs firm track and a good ride and he got that today.’’

Bunker Hut continued a frustrating sequence of near misses with his third successive second placing from as many starts this preparation.

Emerging apprentice Zac Wadick gave Bunker Hut the run of the race and the gelding looked the winner half-way down the straight only to be collared near the line by High Blue Sea.

Bunker Hut has been beaten by an aggregate margin of less than a length in his three narrow losses.

RAWILLER ON SING WITH A FAB FOUR AT RANDWICK

Champion jockey Nash Rawiller continued his superlative form with his fourth win on the improving Saltcoats at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Rawiller was earning all the plaudits after his winning rides on Emmadella, Unstopabull and High Blue Sea but he wasn’t resting on his laurels and produced another text-book effort to win on Saltcoats in the TAB Handicap (2000m).

Saltcoats ($2.60 favourite) also gave Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller a brace of wins on the final Sydney Saturday meeting of the year when he wore down Claim The Crown ($15) to win by just over a length with Bullets High ($6.50) a close third.

"There's four for Nash!"

Saltcoats with an easy win for @cwallerracing with @nashhot aboard! pic.twitter.com/wXHXTWDd5o

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 28, 2024

• Rawiller proves Unstopabull with an early double

Rawiller was impressed by Saltcoat’s effort and suggested the young stayer was capable of getting to stakes level.

“He’s a promising horse and he’s improving with racing,” Rawiller said. “I think he’s capable of winning a stakes race.”

Rawiller’s four wins takes him to 31 wins for the season to be third on the Sydney jockeys premiership behind James McDonald.

Waller’s Randwick double took him to 64 city wins for the season with the trainer set for a 15th consecutive premiership.

“Saltcoats has always had the ability but he’s growing in confidence now,” Waller said.

“I think he is the type to keep progressing and he might get to a race like the Parramatta Cup.”

Originally published as Trainer Gerald Ryan gets a pre-race confidence boost as High Blue Sea sails to victory