When giant gelding Possibly So grabbed the lead in the final few strides of Saturday’s TAB Highway he triggered great emotion among connections. Firstly, for part owner and trainer Andrew Ryan it was a very special moment - a maiden TAB Highway win and his first on the hallowed turf of Royal Randwick. It had been more than fifty years since his late father Don had won a race at the historic venue with Orchid Boy. Andrew shares in the ownership of the five year old with brothers Stephen and Bernard and with the horse’s breeder Glenn Fraser and his wife Kerry. All owners were there to soak up the euphoria. Glenn had previously gained prominence as the breeder of dual Gr 1 winner Sacred Choice and Kosciuszko victor Handle The Truth.
Sharing the thrill was veteran jockey Tony Cavallo who’s been on the big horse in thirteen of his nineteen runs and is familiar with his racing quirks. He began awkwardly as is his custom, although Cavallo said later it was one of his better starts. He had to be niggled from the outset to avoid getting any further back, and it seemed an eternity before he finally started to pick up the bit. Cavallo, careful not to impede the gelding’s momentum probed for galloping room and was relieved when a narrow gap appeared between Two Aye and Final Comment. Possibly So and Two Aye swept to the lead together with the hulking Star Witness gelding using his prominent head to full advantage.
Tony Cavallo knows this horse backwards! He brought Possibly So through a narrow gap in the straight to nail Two Aye right on the line - courtesy Steve Hart Photograpics.
Rare city appearances by Tony Cavallo are emerging as good form pointers. Possibly So gave him a fourth TAB Highway success following previous victories on About Time for Gavin Groth, Toulon Brook for Kody Nestor and Zoo Station for Gayna Williams. Cavallo who notched his 1000th career win late last year, was actually still based in Sydney at the end of 2016 but found himself commuting frequently to western districts meetings. He decided to relocate to a Mudgee base and quickly built up a rapport with country trainers. The 54 year old has enjoyed continued support from a wide range of trainers who value his input. Nowadays Tony is a regular at Bathurst trackwork, but makes sure he devotes one morning a week to his long time supporter Bob Howe at Mudgee.
Andrew Ryan, now approaching 64 years of age, attributes his success as a trainer to the grounding he received from his late father Don. Don Ryan who passed away in 2021 boasted a background of amazing diversity. Apprenticed to his trainer-father Frank Ryan, Don showed great talent in the saddle before suffering serious injuries in a Molong race fall in the early 1950’s.
Before settling into a professional training career he had a very successful ten year stint as a race caller on the western line, and is remembered as a talented exponent of the trade.
Don’s training career embraced close to sixty years, and earned him a reputation as a great all round horseman. His list of credits included an Orange Cup, two Bathurst Cups, a Cowra Cup, Canowindra Cup, Mudgee Cup, Parkes Town Plate, Wellington Town Plate and the inaugural Golden Fleece at Warren with Cadogan Place ridden by Bill Aspros. Don always regarded Ecrates as the best horse he’d trained. He won 14 races with the mare and went within a nose of a Randwick success when just pipped by the Neville Begg trained Rue Nought. His training property at Laffing Waters was named Ecrates Park and is situated only one and a half kilometres from the Tyers Park track. Andrew’s horses are domiciled on the fifty acre property to the present day.
A family portrait after a win with Our Canny Boy at Dubbo in 2012. From left Bernard with daughter Jessica, Andrew, Don and Diana Ryan - courtesy Janian McMillan Racing Photography.
After more than four decades together, Andrew and his father finally formulated an official partnership in 2016. “Sadly we had only four years as a team before he passed on,” said Andrew. “He was a wonderful horseman and a great tutor. He taught me everything I know and his lessons will never be forgotten.”
Andrew greatly values the input offered by his Sydney based brothers. Stephen is the founder and co-director of the Edney Ryan chartered accountancy practice at Mosman, while Bernard is heavily involved in the real estate business as a director and co-owner of the Ray White Lower North Shore Group. Prior to his move into the real estate world Bernard had spent close to a decade in varying roles with the Australian Jockey Club, and another three years with the newly formed controlling body Racing NSW. His broad knowledge of racing administration and a natural affinity with country racing later led him to a position on the Bathurst Turf Club committee, and ultimately the Presidency. When unable to personally attend committee meetings, he participates via the wonders of computer conferencing.
“Both Stephen and Bernard have a sound racing knowledge and having grown up as sons of a leading trainer, they understand the fundamentals of horse management,” said Andrew. “From time to time they might have a suggestion to offer, and I’m happy to listen. The operation of Ryan Bloodstock is a real team effort.”
A special moment for Andrew and Stephen Ryan in the Randwick winner's circle on Saturday - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Andrew reports that Possibly So pulled up in great fettle after Saturday’s win, save for a partially closed eye. “He obviously copped a clod during the race, and by Sunday morning the eye was almost completely closed,” said the trainer. “We treated the eye and let him out into a grassy paddock. He bucked and squealed and nearly turned himself inside out. He’ll have plenty of paddock time in the next week before getting down to business again. He’ll have a trial and one race before aiming up at the Country Championship Qualifier over 1400m at Mudgee on February 25th. He ran second in the same race last year, and there’s no doubt he’s a better horse this time around.”
Possibly So is the latest in a sequence of bargain basement purchases to win races at Randwick recently. The most notable is the $1750 Inglis Digital purchase Terra Mater who’s won five races including a recent metropolitan hat trick. Bomarea was a $6000 2020 Inglis HTBA Sale graduate who’s already won three races including a Randwick Highway. Possibly So was offered by Widden Stud at a crowdless 2020 Gold Coast Yearling Sale. “A handful of agents were in attendance and there wasn’t much action,” said Andrew. “He looked a good enough type on his photos and videos, and his X-rays were fine. To this day I can’t tell you why we were able to get him for $2000. It’s almost embarrassing when you think about it. One gets through the net every now and again.”
When Andrew Ryan needs a change of pace he only needs to report for home duties. He and wife Sarah live on an idyllic six acres of gardens named “Hillandale” at nearby Yetholme. “Sarah has established a perfect venue for wedding ceremonies, photographic sessions and smaller receptions,” said Andrew. “For larger functions most clients go into Bathurst after the actual wedding ceremony. It’s a lovely place with huge expanses of lawn. I’m the chief grass cutter. I can get on the drive-on mower and plan future assignments for our horses.”
Possibly So is basically a quiet horse but can get a little boisterous in the parade yard. Andrew likes to stay close at all times - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Andrew is quietly optimistic about the prospects of two Dundeel three year old fillies he has on the six horse team currently. Coincidentally both are out of mares he trained in partnership with his father. “One is called Tithing and she’s out of Just Pay Up who won three races for us at Dubbo and Narromine,” he said. “The other is called Someone and she’s out of Somebody, a Dylan Thomas mare who won six races on the western line. I really like both fillies. We can only hope.”
But for now, the star boarder is the big awkward customer who’s taken an age to put it all together. Come to think of it, he’s not there yet. Despite this, Possibly So’s already a Randwick winner and hopefully he’ll be back on those roomy stretches during the Championships in April. He’s got to run first or second in the $150,000 heat at Mudgee to make it into the $1 million dollar final on April 6th, day 1 of The Championships. The astute Ryan brothers will be doing their level best to get the big boy to the “bushies” Grand Final.
A happy group shared the winner's sash on Saturday. Andrew and Stephen flank the horse. Front row from left Stephen's son and daughter, Dan and Emma, and his wife Liz, breeder Glenn Fraser and Bernard Ryan - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Greg Ryan (no relation) rode many winners for the late Don Ryan. Here they are at a western districts race meeting in 2021 - courtesy Janian McMillan Racing Photography.
(Banner image - Possibly So claims Two Aye to give Andrew Ryan his first TAB Highway and his maiden win at Royal Randwick - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)