Three-year-old Menari (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) put himself into the reckoning for the inaugural A$10-million The Everest on Oct. 14 with a first-up win in the Listed Rosebud S. at Rosehill on Saturday for trainer Gerald Ryan. Asked by Sky Thoroughbred Central host Greg Radley if he'd been talking to any Everest slot holders to secure a place for Menari in the 12-horse lineup, Ryan said, “no, they'll be talking to me.”
Menari's impressive performance suggested Ryan's confident mood could be justified. Breaking among the leaders, Menari was allowed to drop back by Joshua Parr as Tim Clark rode favoured Siege Of Quebec (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) aggressively to the lead. Midpack and about four length off the lead as the field rounded the turn, Menari was forced widest of all off the bend but that proved no bother as he kicked down the middle of the track under a handride. Given a few slaps by Parr passing the 200 metre mark, Menari overtook Siege Of Quebec inside the final furlong to win by a comfortable 1 1/4 lengths (video). It was a first black-type win for Menari, who had finished second to Pariah (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) in last season's G3 Canonbury S. before running fifth in the G2 Todman S. and fourth in the G1 Golden Slipper, the first colt home in that rain-sodden contest. He was a last-out 10th in the G1 Sires' Produce S. on Apr. 1.
Ryan said Menari's next assignment would be the G3 San Domenico S. on Aug. 26, after which it would be decided if he would tackle the G1 Golden Rose S. on Sept. 23 prior to a potential Everest start.
“I've got a real inkling that Menari is just a sprinter so whether he goes to the Golden Rose we'll play it by ear and make up our minds after the San Domenico,” Ryan said. “[Menari] has been aimed at this race all the way along and the best part about it is that he has nice improvement in him. He has come back very well and is a much more relaxed horse, much more focused. I think he is a very good horse.”
The Rosehill card marked a continuation of the red-hot run of last season's champion sire Snitzel, who notched three winners on the day.
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