Nick Ryan lands Echuca Cup quinella with Red Phantom
Red Phantom caused an upset in the Echuca Cup (1400m) on Sunday, March 9, edging out stablemate Capper Thirtynine to give trainer Nick Ryan a quinella in the feature event.
Sent out at $21 with the online bookmakers, Red Phantom controlled the race from the front under Jake Duffy, proving too tough late to deny Capper Thirtynine, who loomed as the likely winner at the 200m mark.
Jumping cleanly from barrier four, Red Phantom took up the lead early, with Capper Thirtynine settling just behind alongside Rhinoceros and Modown.
Duffy dictated a steady tempo, keeping his mount comfortable while the more fancied Capper Thirtynine was asked to edge closer as they approached the bend.
At the 250m, Capper Thirtynine hit the front, seemingly set for victory, but Red Phantom found another gear, fighting back on the inside to regain the lead in the final strides, scoring by 0.2 lengths.
2025 Echuca Cup Race Replay – Red Phantom
Nick Ryan was delighted with the performance, noting that Red Phantom had been set for the race.
“He was targeted for this race, while Capper was on the backup. He’s always been a handy horse, and today, things fell into place. It looked like Capper was going to get him, but he fought back and got the job done.”
For jockey Jake Duffy, it was a significant victory, having ridden Red Phantom in previous races and learning from past mistakes.
“I feel like I got it wrong last time I rode him, but today, I was able to put him in the race early, keep him switched on, and he was tough when it counted. In the last 50m, he really stuck his head out and fought hard.”
The victory marks Red Phantom’s fifth career win and boosts his earnings to $229,950. While Capper Thirtynine again had to settle for second, Modown and Prince Eric rounded out the minor placings.
Ryan will now assess Red Phantom’s next move but was thrilled with the result.
“It’s great to get a win like this for his owners. He’s been lightly raced but always shown ability, and it’s good to see him deliver on a big day like today.”
The Echuca Cup quinella for Ryan capped off another strong training performance, proving once again why his stable continues to thrive in feature country cups.
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