Ranier breaks maiden status in Listed win
Trainer James Cummings and the Godolphin team have a decision to make with Ranier after the colt atoned for a luckless last start defeat to break his maiden at Caulfield.
Ranier was the victim of a chequered passage when second at Flemington last start but this time jockey Hugh Bowman ensured he had clear running.
The three-year-old did the rest in the Listed Gothic Stakes (1400m).
Ranier ($3.10) finished down the outside to beat Yulong January ($3.60) by a long head with a long neck to Wild Planet ($9) third.
The race was not without incident after jockey Jamie Mott was dislodged from Bricktop who knuckled at the start.
Cummings said Ranier was a talented horse and the options were to go to the Group Three Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington next or drop him back in distance for the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
“He’s three or four months away so I don’t mind the idea of biting off the small fish and the low hanging fruit for now,” Cummings said.
“And if he’s three or four months away he might be a horse for the Australian Guineas in March.”
Bowman believes either is a legitimate option and is also convinced Ranier will be better again in the autumn.
“I think they’ve got a decision to make and I don’t think he’ll disappoint whichever way they decide to go,” Bowman said.