Peggy Jean wins G1 Sires' Produce Stakes

Saturday 12 April 2014, 2:57pm

Gerald Ryan's remarkable record with two-year-olds this season has been converted into a Group One success with Peggy Jean claiming Saturday's Sires' Produce Stakes at Randwick.

The win also vindicated Ryan's decision to bypass the Golden Slipper and instead target Peggy Jean at the longer journeys of the Sires' Produce (1400m) and Champagne Stakes (1600m) in two weeks.

The Sires' Produce is the 14th juvenile race Ryan has won during the 2013-14 term and such is the depth in his two-year-old ranks he saddled up four runners.

"I said to the (owners) Triple Crown boys she wasn't a Golden Slipper filly, she was more a Sires'-Champagne and we've just aimed her towards that," Ryan said.

"It's paid dividends. She's a filly I thought needed 1400 or 1600 metres and I didn't want to be an also-ran in the Golden Slipper, her hitting the line hard and not being able to win.

"It's a great thrill. When you sit back and set a horse for a race and it happens it gives you great satisfaction."

Peggy Jean ($3.80) was given time to find her feet by Nash Rawiller before setting out after the leaders.

She looked set to sweep to an easy victory before Scratch Me Lucky ($26) kicked back strongly and made her fight for a half-length win.

That pair streeted the others with Cornrow ($26) another 5-1/2 lengths in arrears.

Peggy jean's stablemate Believe Yourself was sent out favourite on the strength of her Golden Slipper fourth but beat just one runner home.

"It looks as if the little filly didn't back up," Ryan said.

Ryan's remaining runners, Time For War and Lucky Raquie, were fourth and eighth respectively.

The first two across the line will press on to the Champagne Stakes in which Ryan is also likely to start last week's winner Bachman.

The Rosehill trainer said there was no secret to his success with two-year-olds, but added a spending spree at the yearling sales last year had proven telling.

"You just train them individually and if they cope they cope," he said.

"We've had a great year. We went out last year and bought a heap of yearlings. We thought the team was getting a bit depleted."

Paul Perry, trainer of Scratch Me Lucky, said his horse's effort gave him the confidence to have another roll of the dice.

"They beat the others out of sight. There was just one going better than him, but he's improved and I think the mile will suit him," Perry said.

– AAP

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