Nick Ryan has landed the biggest win of his career with Kissonallforcheeks taking out a stakes race at Flemington.
Kissonallforcheeks won the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) on Saturday to surpass Ryan’s previous three biggest wins, all at Listed level.
The former champion apprentice started his training career at Albury before moving to Caulfield after a couple of seasons ahead of a switch to Flemington a just over two years ago.
Ryan has not looked back since his move to Flemington and has now prepared 104 winners from only 675 starters.
Providing Mark Zahra the second leg of a winning double, Kissonthecheeks, the $3.60 favourite, ran down the leader Lady Of Honour ($13) to score by a neck with Yearning ($31) a short-half-head away third.
Kissonallforcheeks scored for Perth trainer Daniel Morton at Flemington during the autumn and caught the eye at her first run for Ryan when third in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 27.
With that Group 2 win under his belt, Ryan is hoping to get Kissonallforcheeks to the Group 1 Empire Rose (1600m) at Flemington on October 29.
Ryan finished second aboard Alinghi in the Group 1 race for fillies and mares as an apprentice jockey.
“There are a few different paths, but it could possibly be the (Group 2) Rose Of Kingston (at Flemington) in 21 days all heading towards the Empire Rose,” Ryan said.
“She’s a classy mare and I’m grateful that she’s got the job done.”
Zahra rode Kissonallforcheeks when she was successful over Saturday’s course and distance in March and said the mare was certainly going just as well this time around.
“It was a massive win that day and she didn’t have the favours like she did that day today,” Zahra said.
“She was still able to get the job done, so she’s ticking over better than ever.”
