Regardsmaree To Kick Off Group 1 Campaign

Trainer Nick Ryan believes his 5YO gelding Regardsmaree (So You Think-Rossa Mia, by Testa Rossa) can step up to a Group 1 campaign this spring, reports racing.com. He opens his season this Saturday in the Gr3 Aurie's Star Handicap at Flemington and has had a couple of jumpouts in preparation. "The first one was very quiet, his second one was a bit more serious; he was in good company, it was a good jumpout and he was terrific, his action was great, and (I was) really happy with him," Ryan said. "He's come through that really well as well and galloped well this morning, so (I'm) looking forward to stepping out on his home track first-up down the straight 1200 on Saturday." Regardsmaree hasn't run since his fourth placing in the Echuca Cup over 1400m back in March. "His main grand final goal would be the (Sir) Rupert Clarke (Stakes) and maybe a race like the Toorak (Handicap)," he said. Of the two Group 1s. "He'll run first-up on Saturday, and then on Memsie Stakes Day there's an open 1400, and then he'll be third-up into the Rupert Clarke..." A $70,000 Inglis Melbourne Yealring Sale graduate from the Hillside Thoroughbreds draft, Regardsmaree (see below) has won six of his 16 starts and over $335,000.