There was a ripple of excitement in the big Dubbo crowd on Sunday when course broadcaster Col Hodges announced that Sizzle Minizzle would appear in an exhibition gallop between races five and six. The buzz increased when Col added that the local galloper would be ridden by former legendary jockey Greg Ryan who hasn’t competed in a race since June of 2021.
Greg’s appearance predictably fuelled speculation that he might be contemplating a comeback, but the former star jockey was quick to throw cold water on that suggestion. “Firstly, I’m now fifty seven years of age and secondly I’m twelve kilos heavier than I was when I finished riding almost two and a half years ago,” he said. “I struggled to keep my weight stable for thirty years. The fact that I’ve put on twelve kilos since retirement shows you how tough a grind it was for such a long time. Make no mistake, I’d love to still be riding in races, but it would be a massive task at this stage of my life.”
Handling Sizzle Minizzle wasn’t Greg’s only commitment on Dubbo Cup day. He was also required to present the inaugural Greg Ryan Medal, a newly developed award for the most successful Dubbo Cup day rider going forward. For a man who isn’t completely at ease with too much attention, Greg was deeply touched by the Dubbo Turf Club’s thoughtful gesture. It came right on top of the news that the recently refurbished male and female jockeys rooms have also been named in his honour.
Greg answered the call to ride Sizzle Minizzle in trackwork from the start of his spring preparation - courtesy Janian McMillan Racing Photography.
It was as though he’d never been away as Greg came onto the track for the exhibition gallop on the Brett Robb trained Sizzle Minizzle. With spectators watching intently, the four year old worked three quarter pace from the 800m before being allowed to slide down the straight on the bridle. Brett Robb was delighted with the work but remains deeply disappointed that he hasn’t had a single nibble from a Kosciuszko slot holder. “For now, I’m just going to push on as though he’s in the Kosciuszko,” said Brett. “He’ll go to Rosehill on September 23rd for an 1100m BM 78 and we’ll see what happens after that. One of the others might go amiss. You never know in this business. If he misses out on a Kosciuszko run, we might even put him away again and concentrate on next year’s Country Championship.”
Sizzle Minizze’s record currently stands at four wins and two placings from just twelve starts for prize money of $518,000. He came from well back to win the rich Country Championship Final at Randwick in April before finishing a creditable fourth to Hawaii Five Oh in a strong Hawkesbury Guineas. Prior to Sunday’s exhibition gallop his only recent public appearance was in an open trial at Tamworth on August 23rd, when he finished a close second to the talented Talbragar.
Greg Ryan’s involvement with the horse was locked in when Sizzle Minizzle returned from his winter spell looking bigger and stronger than he had in the autumn. “Although I was badly lacking match practice, Brett Robb asked me to consider riding Sizzle Minizzle in all of his trackwork leading up to the Kosciusko,” said the multiple premiership winning jockey. “I hesitated because I lacked the fitness required to be riding racehorses, but Brett assured me that he’s a non-puller and a very pleasant horse to handle. I pulled up a bit big after the first couple of gallops, but I improved quickly and I’ve certainly enjoyed the experience. I’d be telling fibs if I said the thought of a comeback didn’t flash into my mind, but I quickly put it aside.”
Greg Ryan retired in 2021 with an amazing 4035 wins on his CV - only Robert Thompson's 4447 career tally exceeds that number - courtesy Janian McMillan Racing Photography.
Just for the record Greg’s return to the saddle came a few months before he agreed to link up with Sizzle Minizzle. The thought of getting back into the saddle hadn’t crossed his mind until he attended the wedding of his niece Elly at Wellington late last year. “My sister Karen McCarroll has been training a small team of horses for a number of years and happened to have a smart maiden galloper called Whataboutscotty in the stable at the time,” recalled Greg. “My brother-in-law Stephen mentioned during the reception that Karen was having trouble getting work riders at the track. The horse was showing a little bit of potential and Karen was worried that his preparation might suffer. I couldn’t help myself. Next thing I’m driving to Wellington a couple of mornings a week to ride Whataboutscotty in his work. We were rewarded when the horse won consecutive races at Dubbo and Bathurst.”
Greg’s remarkable riding statistics are well documented but always worthy of a revisit. His career tally of 4,035 wins puts him in second place behind all time Australian record holder Robert Thompson who retired at age 63 in December 2021 with 4,447 wins on the board. It’s a matter of significance that two veteran jockeys with an astonishing 8,482 wins between them should retire within six months of one another.
Greg is justifiably proud of his eleven NSW premierships, and five Australian titles. He was leading NSW country based rider on no less than twenty two occasions. He broke Darren Beadman’s NSW record as far back as 1997/1998. He sometimes reflects on the 2002/2003 season when he posted his personal best figures of 216 wins, giving him state and national honours. “If I had to pick a career highlight I’d plump for a NSW title in 2000/2001 with 208.5 wins which also broke the Australian record,” said Greg. “Late in the season when I could see Allan Robinson’s Australian record was within reach, I started to travel to tracks way out of my territory.
“For the final meeting of the season I got as far afield as Coffs Harbour where I had eight rides. Coming into the meeting I was level with Allan’s figures and did my best to stay composed. I got only two placings in my first seven rides and I thought the record had slipped through my fingers. I rode a horse called Idealistic for local trainer Ken Lantry in the last race and had just about given up when he was last of sixteen runners on the hometurn. I couldn’t believe it when he stormed down the outside to grab the leaders and he was going so fast on the line he actually won by two lengths. I won’t forget Idealistic in a hurry.”
Greg's final day of race riding was at Mudgee 04/12/2021. Fittingly he won a race on Without Shame for old friend Sue Grills - courtesy Janian McMillan Racing Photography.
A prime catalyst in Greg’s decision to retire in 2021 was a desire to assist son Isaac in the development of his growing Dubbo business. Isaac Ryan is a trained arborist, and in a city of 35,000 people there’s regular demand for his services in tree removal and lopping. “It’s a specialist craft with an element of danger which in itself generates demand,” says Greg. “I climb up and have a crack myself from time to time, but only on the simple jobs. My main commitment is to keep the company machinery in good working order at all times.”
Greg Ryan’s background as a mechanic is well documented. He began his indentureship in Wellington in the late 1980’s before moving to Mudgee for a five year stint. He then returned to Wellington where he spent a short time at a Holden operation before Paul Robertson offered him a position at his busy Ford Dealership. Intensive training under experienced mechanics at the Ford Dealership brought out the best in young Ryan. “I’ve never forgotten the lessons learned in that era, and I’ve enjoyed tinkering with mechanical problems ever since,” he said. “If I can’t get something going straight away, I like to sit down and try to work out a possible solution.”
Isaac Ryan is deeply appreciative of his father’s talents. His business depends on the reliability of two “not-so-new” trucks, loaders, stump grinders and miscellaneous mechanical items. “It’s a rare week when I don’t have to give something a little attention,” said Greg. “I even had to replace the gearbox in the company ute a while back. I think you could say I’m a full time mechanic these days.”
A penny for his thoughts as Greg came back to scale on Without Shame. He didn't know at the time that this was to be his final winner as a jockey - courtesy Janian McMillan Racing Photography.
Greg was a very late bloomer in the Australian riding ranks, making his debut as a twenty five year old. His first win was really only half a win - a dead heat in a Cl 5 at Wellington in February 1991. The judge couldn’t separate his mount Standard Time and Accumulo with Bill Aspros on board. “Bill was dominant in the west at that time,” recalled Greg. “He’d ridden the first five winners on a six race card, and I deprived him of a clean sweep. Mind you I absolutely slaughtered my horse. Even the chief steward Ned Dougherty called me in and gave me a dressing down after the race.”
A lovely photo from Janian McMillan. Greg goes into the barrier on Divine Jewel at Narromine 16/08/2020. The mare went on to win the race - courtesy Janian McMillan Racing Photography.
Nobody at Wellington that day, especially Ned Dougherty would have imagined the glittering career that lay ahead of the Wellington mechanic. The second largest win tally of any Australian jockey and almost forty assorted premierships is massive testimony to a stellar career. Add to that a medal of honour and jockey’s rooms bearing your name, not to mention the distinction of being asked to partner a budding top line horse in trackwork two years after quitting the saddle. How good it was to see the former champion jockey astride Sizzle Minizzle on Sunday. As he rolled down the Dubbo straight in front of that big crowd, Greg may well have wished his riding career was only just beginning. Those thousands of punters who invest on the NSW western districts meetings would have been thinking exactly the same thing.
A portrait like study of Greg and long time rival and friend Matthew Cahill after a race at Narromine 16/08/2020. Greg won the event on Bengalla Bay - courtesy Janian McMillan Racing Photography.
A Rosehill win on Alart for trainer Pat Farrell in 2015 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
(Banner image - Sizzle Minizzle and Greg Ryan attracted almost as much attention as the running of Sunday's Dubbo Cup - courtesy Janian McMillan Racing Photography.)