3 minute read
Sentiment and precious memories ride with comeback galloper Life Well Lived into Saturday’s TAB Highway at Royal Randwick.
The Bathurst four-year-old gelding is named in honour of the late great racing and sporting broadcaster and trainer Don Ryan who decades ago worked with Junee's emerging caller Ray Warren.
Don's family is a 90-year regional racing institution, and his three sons maintain the Ryan bloodstock breeding enterprise and stable where Life Well Lived emerged as a promising three-race winner before going amiss.
That was after racing in an August Highway at headquarters with Hugh Bowman which he contested with favouritism at $5.50.
"The way he was winning and progressing we had expectations of a Country Cups horse, maybe even city grade but he developed breathing issues that required a throat operation," explains trainer Andrew Ryan.
"When Hugh (Bowman) got off him that day, he said he's blowing like he has wind issues. That proved to be the case.
"We understand what affect throat surgery can have on a horse but his first-up run at Mudgee at unsuitable distance was encouraging enough to suggest he's recovered well enough.
"Obviously it's still wait and see until he's put under pressure at his preferred distance range. And produces. We'll know a lot more on Saturday."
The the Vancouver protégé contests a TAB $120,000 Class 3, 1400m at headquarters with 57kg for regular rider Anthony Cavallo.
"We couldn't be happier with his work and attitude and Anthony who has always ridden him says the same,'' Ryan said.
"We think he'll run us a race, or we wouldn't have nominated. Does wants a 'mile' or further? But second-up, still fresh, the 1400m suits."
Before having those issues, Life Well Lived contested a Highway on the strength of impressive wins over 1600m at Mudgee and Dubbo when ridden by Cavallo.
The gelding's naming was in tribute for Don and the family matriarch Dianne, rising 90, mother of five and grandmother.
"Mum's a marvel still takes a very active interest in racing, this horse is a favourite, she watches races from home which is adjacent to our stables," he said.
And the retention of Cavallo instead of an established metropolitan rider isn't purely on loyalty - "Anthony understands him better than anyone, won the three races, they relate, he travels for him.
"Anthony is an integral part of our operation, no thought whatsoever of a city rider."
In early markets Life Well lived is an appealing $19 if anywhere near the form of his last prep.
A typically capacity and deep episode sees Paul Messara's Demitasse favourite at near each-way odds on a soft 5 at present.
