Trainer Gerald Ryan eyes winter reward before Grebeni and Green Shadows target Little Dance in spring

Stablemates Grebeni and Green Shadows are in contention for this year’s Little Dance but trainer Gerald Ryan wants to see them clash in another Royal Randwick feature first on Saturday.

Grebeni will runs in Saturday’s Civic Stakes at Randwick. Picture: Getty Images

Trainer Gerald Ryan has one eye on a likely $750,000 Sydney spring date for Grebeni and Green Shadows but is hopeful either horse can claim a winter reward long before then at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Ryan and training partner Sterling Alexiou have both consistent stablemates prepared for this week’s Listed $200,000 Civic Stakes (1400m) but are sweating on a start for Green Shadows.

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Grebeni ($16) is in the field for the feature event while Green Shadows ($11) was stranded as the second emergency for the race.

The early scratching of Another One has enhanced Green Shadows chances of making the field.

Both Ryan and Alexiou horses are nearing the end of their winter campaigns after already ticking an important box this campaign by gaining Big Dance-Little Dance eligibility.

Grebeni has placed in four of his five starts this preparation with his second to Lavish Empire in March’s Muswellbrook Cup assuring him a run in the Little Dance.

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The son of Ocean Park can sign off on his campaign in style in the Civic Stakes.

“Grebeni will stop after this,” Ryan said.

“He has won just on $100,000 and hasn’t won a race this time in.

“He has been a consistent horse. He has his issues but he has been consistent and puts in every time he goes around as long as he has firmer footing underneath him.

“After his break, he will come back and hopefully hit the (Little Dance) third-up.”

A spell isn’t too far away for Green Shadows either despite the gelding only having two starts this preparation.

Green Shadows is sweating on a run in the Civic Stakes. Picture: Bradley Photos

Green Shadows has been runner-up in both his runs this time in but snared all-important Big Dance-Little Dance eligibility with a first-up second to Name Dropper in the Tamworth Cup.

“We won’t go too far now,” Ryan said.

“He went into the Big Dance last year at the end of a long prep of about seven or eight runs.

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“Now he is qualified for the Little Dance, we just poke along quietly and probably only give him two more runs before a breather and get him ready properly for it.”

In-form apprentice Braith Nock will continue his recent association with Green Shadows if the gelding gets a start in the Civic Stakes.

Headley Grange ($4.60 favourite) will make up part of a strong three-pronged attack for Joe Pride with stablemates Estella Mestalla ($26) and Cool Jakey ($8) also set to run.

The Ciaron Maher-trained Warnie ($5) shares the second line of betting for the race with five emergency Raikkonen.

A capacity field of 16 runners and six emergencies was revealed for the feature event.

Originally published as Trainer Gerald Ryan eyes winter reward before Grebeni and Green Shadows target Little Dance in spring