York opener gift-wrapped for Ryan
Kevin Ryan worked his magic with another two-year-old when Balthazaar’s Gift obliged on his first start for the North Yorkshire trainer in the opening race at York.
The Hambleton-based handler has enjoyed considerable success with his juveniles this season, highlighted by Amadeus Wolf’s wins in the Gimcrack and Middle Park Stakes.
He added to his tally in that division when Balthazaar’s Gift ran out the comfortable two-and-a-half-length winner of the Newton Investment Management Rockingham Stakes.
Neil Callan was always travelling strongly on the 9-2 chance before letting him stride on with two of the six furlongs left to go.
The son of Xaar then drew readily clear to take the Listed contest in style.
“He’s a little bit straight in front and he looks as though he might have had trouble with his shins so I thought this softer ground would suit him,” Ryan said.
“I wouldn’t think he’d be a horse who’d want to be rattling on fast ground.
“He has a lovely attitude and when he quickened there he quickened like a good horse.
“I’ve only had him about three weeks and he’s settled in well and he looks to be quite an exciting horse.
“He’s got such a lot of natural pace. We might give him one more run and then see how he comes on over the winter but I would say he’d make a sprinter.”
