Wyong preview: Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou’s Candy Women chasing another sweet rush

A proven wet track record and an on-pace racing pattern will prove two key elements as the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Candy Women chases victory at Wyong.

The heavy track at Wyong should prove no problems for Candy Women. Picture: Bradley Photos

The heavy track at Wyong is a question mark for many runners but it holds no fears for trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou as far as Candy Women is concerned.

The light-raced filly recorded her maiden win on a Heavy 9 over 1200m at Kembla two starts back before going down by a nose over the same distance at Newcastle last time out.

Prior to that, she had placed on soft ground either side of a luckless fifth behind Keysborough at Wyong after coming from last over 1000m.

“She handles the wet. She has been good in it and been consistent in her races,” said Ryan.

“She is no star but she hasn’t gone to the races and run a bad race yet.

“It was a nice win at Kembla and was only just pipped at Newcastle last start.

“She was probably looking for a tad further but she ran well.”

Brandon Lerena winning on Candy Women at Kembla for ⁦⁦@GRyanRacing⁩ ⁦@blerena60⁩ pic.twitter.com/jyC7TcULz0

— @Shanedyde (@DydeShane69) May 19, 2024

Candy Women steps up in trip when she contests the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m).

“She will bounce, put herself up on the speed and give a good kick. That and the fact we know she gets through the heavy ground, she is in there with a good chance again,” Ryan said.

Ryan and Alexiou will give Carpaccio his chance to show if he can handle the wet ground when he resumes out in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m).

The three-year-old showed good ability in his debut campaign which started with a Super Maiden win on debut at Gosford on December 31 before a second at Wyong and a sixth at Warwick Farm.

“His first-up run, he beat a horse of John O’Shea’s (Rustenburg) that had huge wraps on it,” said Ryan.

“In his second start, he was beaten by Con Karakatsanis’ horse, Black Duke, who came out at his next start and won a Midway at Rosehill.

“At his third start at Warwick Farm, he drew wide so we went back on him but that taught us how to ride him. He is a better horse going forward.

“He is going very well and his trials have been good.

“The question mark with him is the heavy track but you don’t know until you try them on it.

“He is in a nice race and he is another one who puts himself up on the speed.

“If he can get through the ground, he will run well.”

Fellow three-year-old Contrived showed he was ready to kick off his second preparation in the Maiden Handicap (1000m) after two good barrier trials.

He was second to Patience Is Virtue on a Heavy 8 in his Rosehill heat on June 11 before running down Carpaccio in his June 21 trial.

“He has been a difficult horse to get going. He used to be really aggressive and wouldn’t settle properly,” Ryan said.

“He has come back better this time in, his trials have been good and I have been really happy with the way he is going. He’s doing things a lot better now.”

Ryan and Alexiou will also debut Zoomorphic, the first foal of Group 1-winning mare Spright, in the Super Maiden (1350m).

“He is a big horse who has needed time and was gelded because he wasn’t concentrating,” Ryan said.

“He went to the paddock and cut his leg so he had an extended spell.

“He is showing a little bit but hasn’t shown us heaps.

“On pedigree, you would think he would handle the wet track being by Zoustar out of Hinchinbrook mare.

“He has to go there and prove it though.”

Originally published as Wyong preview: Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou’s Candy Women chasing another sweet rush