Sara Ryan keen to back-up Much Much Better in Group 2 Missile Stakes

Much Much Better was a narrow runner-up last weekend and will attempt to go one better in the Group 2 Missile Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Much Much Better is set to back-up in Saturday’s Group 2 Missile Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Trainer Sara Ryan is struggling to find a reason not to run resurgent grey Much Much Better on the seven-day back-up in Saturday’s Group 2 $300,000 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick.

The first stakes race of the Sydney in Sydney hadn’t been on the Big Dance-winning conditioner’s radar until this week but Ryan has warmed to the idea over the past three days.

Much Much Better returned to his best last Saturday with a brave on-speed effort that saw him narrowly pipped by Godolphin galloper Contemporary in a 1300m event at Rosehill Gardens.

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It encouraged her to roll the dice and nominate Much Much Better for the Missile Stakes.

“It was very much a last-minute decision,” Ryan said.

“It was never the plan but the noms came up light and he has done really well.

“The day after he ran he ate up and he is back in form now so we thought if there was any chance to do it, why not now.

“He hasn’t showed me any signs of being tired, he was playing around this (Tuesday) morning so I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t have a go of it.”

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Ryan will wait until later in the week to make an official decision on whether Much Much Better will back-up and has already booked Zac Lloyd for the gelding.

The prospect of another dry track in Sydney would prove crucial to Much Much Better’s chances in the Missile Stakes.

Much Much Better (red) led the field up last Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

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The son of Stratum had struggled to show his best on rain-affected going in recent starts before relishing a Good 4 surface last weekend.

“He is far better horse on top of the ground and he has just got his confidence back as well after he just lost it there,” Ryan said.

“The change to the blinkers have just made the world of difference with him.”

Much Much Better has been $8 out to $10 in early TAB betting for the Missile Stakes with the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Schwarz heading the market at $2.30.

The Premier’s Cup Prelude will provide part of the undercard for the meeting and attracted 17 nominations, headlined by Group 1 winner Kalapour.

Originally published as Sara Ryan keen to back-up Much Much Better in Group 2 Missile Stakes