Nick Ryan backs Haaracaine to measure up Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield

A last-start Benchmark 70 winner is highly fancied to win the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield, a spring plan that’s been three years in the making.

Promising stayer Haaracaine could be a Cups bolter for trainer Nick Ryan with victory in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield.

Haaracaine must finish in the first three on Saturday to be eligible for the Cups but a win would streamline an ambitious spring plan almost three years in the making.

Ryan bought Irish-bred Haaracaine in 2021 as a yearling in the UK with his stepfather, Richard, to eventually target stakes races in Australia.

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“There’s plenty of options for him, we’ll assess how he goes in the Herbert Power,” Ryan said.

“There’s country cups, there’s Moonee Valley Cups, there’s a fork in the road and lots of paths we could take and we’ll be guided after Saturday.”

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Haaracaine needed five starts last year to win a 2000m maiden then went back-to-back at Bendigo and Cranbourne in 2400m and 2500m events to plant the future spring seed.

The five-year-old resumed with a tenacious 1630m win at Flemington first-up last month.

“He’s done nothing wrong Haaracaine,” Ryan said.

“What he’s shown me on the track and in his races, the further he goes the better he’ll get.

“He’s done a lot of work, he’s got a lot of miles in his legs, I’m really happy with him.”

Haaracaine surges along the rail to win first-up at Flemington. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Despite being only a Benchmark 70 winner to date Haaracaine is $6 equal favourite with Ladbrokes in the Herbert Power alongside Gear Up.

Post Impressionist ($6.50) has also topped the market at different stages during the week.

Ryan said the sharp rise in distance, from 1600m to 2400m second-up, would suit the horse.

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“He’s the cleanest winded horse I’ve had anything to do with as far as recovery and stamina, they do it overseas a lot with their horses … it’s nothing out of the ordinary,” Ryan said.

“He’s done the work, he’s drawn low, and he’ll definitely get the trip … it’s in his DNA.

“He went 1400m to 2000m to win his maiden by four lengths, these horses are different, bred different, it’s in their DNA, once you’ve got the miles in the legs, they’ll do the rest.”

Haaracaine is $101 with Ladbrokes for the Caulfield Cup and $67 in Melbourne Cup markets.

Originally published as Nick Ryan backs Haaracaine to measure up Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield