The quality of spring races in Sydney will ensure any pandemic restrictions over the interstate travel of horses will have minimal impact, according to trainer Gerald Ryan.
Ryan is assembling a promising carnival team led by high-class sprinter Standout and undefeated colt Peltzer, who is among the early fancies for the Group One Golden Rose.
He has an able support cast of three-year-olds including Return With Honour, who was scratched from The Rosebud on Saturday due to a heavy track.
Horses coming from Victoria are currently banned from racing in NSW until they serve a period in quarantine.
Ryan admits it is a deterrent to sending horses south early in the season but he is confident there are enough good races in Sydney to cater for the locals.
“Early on it has changed things, but there is too much good racing, prestige racing here in Sydney to worry about going to Melbourne,” Ryan said.
“Sure, there are good races (in Melbourne) later on. You’ve got the Blue Sapphire, the Caulfield Guineas, the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
“But there are enough races here to worry about Sydney first, then what gets to Melbourne, you can worry about later on.”
Peltzer won his three starts at the end of the autumn, including back-to-back victories at Randwick.
The colt is due to barrier trial later this month before he resumes in the Group Three San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on August 29.
He is then slated to tackle the Run To The Rose (1200m) two weeks later, ahead of the $1 million Golden Rose on September 26.
All three races are at his home track of Rosehill, a course Ryan hopes he likes as much as he does Randwick.
“The majority of my three-year-olds this year, their races are going to be at Rosehill on their home track,” Ryan said.
“I just hope Peltzer goes as well at Rosehill as he does at Randwick because he is unbeaten at Randwick.”
Peltzer’s formlines were franked at Rosehill on Saturday when Anders, who finished second to him at Kembla Grange in April, comfortably won the Listed The Rosebud.