RYAN'S PENCHANT FOR NAMING HIS HORSES

SATURDAY: August 31, 2024: BLAKE Ryan has another string to his bow!

Not only is the Hawkesbury trainer an experienced horseman, but he also has a penchant for naming racehorses.

And he’s become quite an “athlete” at doing it.

Friday’s Moruya debut winner Asuriito is one of his inspirations, and he told how he named him.

“I’ve been to Japan a couple of times, and Asuriito is Japanese for athlete,” he said today.

“This horse was a natural from the start, and has been sharp in his trials.

“I name a lot of my horses, and have a list of good names on my computer.”

Ryan posted his 30th career winner when Brazen Bay three-year-old Asuriito (James Innes Jnr) took the Maiden Plate (930m) at Moruya as a $2.60 second favorite, defeating Commandoro ($6) and Aegipan ($15), showing his usual zip from the barrier and fighting on strongly to break through at his first start.

Asuriito had trialled five times on separate occasions before going to the races, and Ryan said there were a couple of reasons why he didn’t start during his two-year-old season.

“I bought him for $25,000 at the Magic Millions National yearling sale at the Gold Coast in June last year, and trialled him on the Kensington track in September trying to get him ready for the opening two-year-old race of the season, the Breeders’ Plate at Randwick,” he explained.

“When he finished fourth in the trial, I realised he wouldn’t make the field and spelled him.

“Asuriito won both his 800m trials at Kembla Grange and Hawkesbury earlier in the year, and he was to kick off in a Maiden at Quirindi in Febuary.

“Unfortunately, he never got there when traffic was held up because of a bad accident, and I gave him a break again after he ran third in a Hawkesbury trial on February 27.

“Asuriito came back and won another 800m trial at Hawkesbury on August 5, and the 930m Maiden at Moruya looked ideal to start him off in.

“The pleasing part was that he didn’t only show his usual pace to sit outside the favorite Reward For Eric (who ran fourth), but gave plenty in the straight and was strong to the line.

“I own a good chunk of him with two clients, so it was great to see him get the job done.

“On that effort, I can’t see why he won’t manage 1000m.”

Ryan is coming off a benchmark 13 winners last season after winning with his first starter Divine future at Orange in February 2021.

He joked his opening winner (Asuriito) of the new season came much earlier than his first winner (Lady Extreme at Gosford on December 7) in his best season to date.

Ryan purchased two yearlings at the MM National yearling sale last year; the other being Up The Front ($45,000), who will resume at his home track on Saturday.

The Rubick three-year-old ran fourth at $61 in a Midway 2YO Maiden (900m) at Newcastle in April on debut, and was spelled afterwards.

. HOOFNOTE: Fellow Hawkesbury trainer Edward O’Rourke decided to wait another week with his talented sprinter Iron Man.

He withdrew him from a Benchmark 88 Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens today when he drew poorly.

“Both myself and his jockey Tyler Schiller felt he would get too far back from where he was drawn,” O’Rourke said.

“Iron Man will go to a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.”