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Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou will saddle up High Blue Sea and Union Army at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou yard have two good chances at Rosehill on Saturday with a pair of four-year-old geldings and Alexiou is keen to see how the lightly raced High Blue Sea will return off over a year's break.
Fourth to Osipenko and Madame Pommery on debut, High Blue Sea won his two starts prior to an injury enforced layoff, but the stable believes there are more wins in store for the son of Merchant Navy.
"He's a progressive sort of horse, he just had a chip flicked out of his knee after his win before he went out so it's been a long slow build up to Saturday, drawn out a bit awkward, he's a horse that normally pushes forward but we'll have a look at the race today and tomorrow," Alexiou said.
Saturday's benchmark 72 over 1300m is a good starting point for High Blue Sea and the stable are hopeful the $9.50 chance can show the right signs off the back of two sound trials.
"He'll improve off whatever he does first up and I'm sure he's got a couple of wins in him this preparation… trials are trials and races are different but (we're) happy with how he's going and I think he's a horse that can get through his grades this time of year," Alexiou said.
The stable's better chance for the day, according to the market, is Union Army who will have his first run at Rosehill having been close up in two runs at Randwick this time in.
"He's going well. Been racing well at Randwick without winning, not far away, drawn good for the 1200 (metres) at Rosehill so hopefully he can probably settle a bit closer than he's settled at Randwick his last couple," Alexiou said.
In a competitive benchmark 78 over 1200m, Union Army is the $3.60 second elect behind Boston Rocks, who defeated Union Army first up from a spell and Alexiou is confident he can turn the tables if things pan out.
"He's a big sort of horse with a big action, he's got a lot of ability and when things go right for him he's got a very good turn of foot and I'd imagine a race like this is going to be within his grasp if things do go right for him," Alexiou said.
"He's a nice horse but he needs a few things to go his way with his racing pattern."
