Nick Ryan plotting a spring path for Winter Championship Final favourite Dice Roll

Short-priced favourite Dice Roll can give trainer Nick Ryan back-to-back wins in the Winter Championship Final before he is set for a spring campaign.

Dice Roll surging to victory at Flemington under jockey Fred Kersley. Picture: Racing Photos

Flemington trainer Nick Ryan’s bid to win a second Listed Winter Championship Final (1600m) in as many years will double as a spring audition for stable star and short-priced favourite Dice Roll.

Ryan, who claimed the $160,000 Finals Day drawcard last year with Sircconi, has earmarked several options for the French import, including the Cox Plate-qualifier Group 2 Feehan Stakes in September.

Successive wins at Caulfield, Sandown and a last-start Flemington triumph not so much surprised Ryan, but confirmed his opinion of Dice Roll.

“It’s quite remarkable what he’s done, coming off such a long break,” Ryan said.

“I knew what I had … you don’t fluke running third in a (Group 1 2018) French Guineas.

“To see him do it (recent wins), knowing I’m nowhere near the bottom of him and there’s more to come is very exciting.”

Dice Roll spent two years in virtual retirement as a paddock companion at a stud in South Australia having failed on firm tracks in Hong Kong, prior to the breakout Melbourne winter campaign.

He was seven weeks between runs last time out when too strong for the fast-finishing Rubisaki.

The win at Sandown prior, prevailing in a two-horse battle against Yulong January, who has since won twice, put the VRC-CRV Winter Championship Final on the radar.

“He’s going to improve from the run the other day (at Flemington) and you can see that in his work, really come on, he worked super Tuesday, all going well … he’s going to be hard to beat,” Ryan said.

Dice Roll is chasing a fourth straight win at Flemington on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Dice Roll will have a short break after Saturday, with Ryan to target possible Group 2 assignments in the PB Lawrence on August 14 and Feehan Stakes on September 4.

Sircconi ran second in the PB Lawrence last year and again in the Listed Heatherlie Handicap before a gutsy fourth in the Feehan, beaten less than a length behind Humidor, Surprise Baby and Harbour Views.

“We’ll aim him (Dice Roll) at something in the spring … whether we target early spring races, the PB Lawrence or the Feehan, or we look at races like the Rupert Clarke or the Toorak,” Ryan said.

“Coming off a winter, if you get into a race like that you have a fitness edge on a few other horses.

“I think he’s got that (Group) ability, we’ll wait and see and let him tell us how he’s going at the time.

“If he looks like stretching out beyond a mile (1600m) that opens a few other doors.”

Since completing the relocation from Caulfield to Flemington in April, Ryan has recorded five wins and two minor placings from 16 starters.

“Things have really flowed on since we moved, it’s just a great set-up, great facility, great people, great vibe.

“I’ve got good staff and my horses are a small but select team and they’re performing.”

Originally published as Nick Ryan plotting a spring path for Winter Championship Final favourite Dice Roll