Gerald Ryan keen to saddle up two-pronged attack in Bob Charley but weather an issue

Co-trainer Gerald Ryan wants to have a strong hand in the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes (1200m) but will be forced to monitor a wet Sydney forecast before targeting Randwick this Saturday.

Ryan and his training partner Sterling Alexiou are keen to run talented mare Villami and in-form sprinter Albumin in the $150,000 feature.

However the stable are desperate to avoid a wet track but will need predicted rain of up to 50mm in parts of Sydney to avoid the inner city Randwick track.

Anything in the soft range would likely put a line through the much anticipated return of classy sprinter Villami.

The four-year-old hasn’t had a start in 2021 after last finishing third in the Listed Century Stakes at Flemington on VRC Oaks Day.

Gerald Ryan is watching the weather. Picture: AAP Image – Simon BullardSource:AAP

A daughter of Foxwedge, Villami made her first public appearance when finishing second in a barrier trial at Rosehill last Friday.

“She trialled good,” Ryan said.

“When she came home from Melbourne she was going to run here (Rosehill) but she bruised her foot and it took a while to get right.

“She has come back a bigger, stronger mare is going good but will need a dry track and if we don’t get it, she won’t run.

“If it’s a true (soft) five or better we will run her but if it’s a five going into a six I won’t waste my time. She doesn’t need the race.”

Ryan indicated focusing on the early spring with Villami is on the agenda if she wasn’t to line up with races like the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) a possibility.

Albumin is nominated to run on Saturday. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

Stablemate Albumin is targeting a second Listed win this preparation after winning the Ortensia Stakes two starts back before finishing fifth in the At Sea Handicap at Randwick on May 29.

“He is doing well,” Ryan said.

“He drew a good gate the other day but he threw it away on him and I thought halfway up the straight he was going to drop out but he fought back and found the line good.

“Since then he has done well. He would run on a soft (6) but I don’t know if I would run him on anything heavier.”

A list of 18 nominations were declared on Monday for the Bob Charley AO Stakes with four potential runners from the Kris Lees stable.

Originally published asStable’s stakes assault in hands of weather gods

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