RYAN'S "ANGEL" A WINNER AGAIN

SATURDAY: December 16, 2023: GALACTIC Angel turned five years of age on the same day (August 1 this year) she walked into Blake Ryan’s stable.

Rather than be retired to begin a breeding career, owners Wayne and Pauline Alchin chose to give their new purchase another try on the track and put the stud career on hold.

Their decision paid a dividend at Goulburn yesterday when Hawkesbury trainer Ryan added to her value by snaring her third win - and first in his care.

Ridden by Jean Van Overmeire, Galactic Angel ($3.10 joint favorite) was never in trouble in the straight in the Class 3 Handicap (1200m).

She comfortably held out $26 roughie Press Lightly and Onya Lional ($8) at only her third start for her new trainer.

A $360,000 Inglis Australian Easter yearling purchase in 2020, Galactic Angel won 1300m and 1200m races at Wyong in December last year and February this year for her previous trainer Anthony Cummings.

However, the daughter of Zoustar and Redoute’s Choice mare Lucky Angel (a four times winner, including two in Melbourne), was offered online in May, and was sold for only $20,000.

“I have a mare at Wayne and Pauline’s Carramar Park Stud in the Grose Valley, and they asked me to have a go with this mare,” Ryan explained today.

“They purchased Galactic Angel as a future broodmare, and I’m not sure why they didn’t send her to stud this season, but I was pleased to be given the opportunity to train her.

“She walked into my stable on August 1, and hasn’t put a foot wrong.

“I got her ready to resume in a 1200m Benchmark 64 Handicap against her own sex at Gosford on November 2 on the back of a jumpout and a soft 800m trial at home in mid-October.

“She ran sixth and then came back to 1100m at home in late November when I put visors on.

‘Galactic Angel ran fourth (beaten only one and half lengths) and I was pretty confident she was ready to win again yesterday.

“She is a good type and a lovely mare to deal with and enjoys spending time in the day yard.

“I feel we’ve got her back to her peak and hopefully we can pick up another couple with her before she eventually goes to stud.”

Ryan scored with debutante Lady Extreme at Gosford just over a week ago, and was understandably thrilled to add another victory – the 18th of his brief career since branching out on his own – to that so quickly.