Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Former champion apprentice jockey turned trainer Nick Ryan is building a formidable record with his boutique Melbourne-based team.
Ryan has had his best season to date with 40 Victorian winners.
Of his 40 winners, 30 per cent have occurred at metropolitan level or better.
Ryan has maintained a winning strike rate of 17 per cent over the past five seasons.
15 per cent of Ryan's yearling purchases that have raced are stakes performers.
Ryan has made a profit of $130,000 on his six tried-horse purchases to date.
With just two weeks remaining in the 2022/23 racing season, Ryan has enjoyed his best season to date since taking out his training license in 2014. Currently sitting 21st on the Victorian training premiership, Ryan is maintaining a healthy winning strike rate of over 16 per cent with his small team.
Always destined to be involved in the industry, Ryan commenced training with a handful of horses in New South Wales before leasing some boxes at Caulfield Racecourse. During his time here he would prepare stable favourite Mahamedeis (Magnus) who has since gone on to accumulate over $1.2 million in career earnings. The closure of Caulfield forced a move to his Flemington base where he operates a small boutique stable that produces results far superior to its size.
Mahamedeis | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Earning over $2.2 million in prizemoney this season, Ryan has enjoyed his best season to date having trained 40 winners in his home state. It appears the talented horseman is only on an upwards trajectory having saddled four times as many winners as he did in the 2018/19 season while maintaining an average winning strike rate of 17 per cent winners to runners across the past five seasons. Of his winners this season, 30 per cent have occurred at metropolitan level or better including an interstate stakes victory with talented import Munhamek (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in last month’s Listed Spear Chief H. at Eagle Farm. Of his 40 winners, 12 have occurred at metropolitan level or better which accounts for an impressive 30 per cent of his total season winners.
Unsurprisingly, Ryan has made impressive progress through the Victorian training ranks in his short training career. In the 2018/19 season, he finished in 80th place on the Victorian Trainers' Premiership having recorded 10 winners from his 65 runners. Just two seasons later he saddled 26 runners from 112 starters at an impressive strike rate of 23 per cent. Since then, he has crept up the standings and is currently sitting just outside the top 20 Victorian training ranks in 21st place. While his stable has steadily grown in size, the most impressive fact is that he is managing to maintain an exceptional winning strike rate, especially at metropolitan level. He is currently placed 12th on the Victorian metropolitan trainers' ranks having trained 12 city winners for the season. With just 60 horses to his name, Ryan is matching motors with some of the state’s biggest stables including Ciaron Maher and David Eustace (19 per cent), Peter Moody (18 per cent) and Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr (16 per cent).
Commencing his training career in 2014 with just a handful of horses, Ryan’s talent has been recognised with him now managing 60 horses for the likes of Gerry Harvey, OTI Racing and his largest supporter in Express Racing. Not only is he an astute trainer, Ryan’s eye for future talent is clearly evident. Of his yearling purchases who have raced, 60 per cent are winners and a further 15 per cent are stakes performers. At the 2018 Melbourne Vobis Gold Yearling Sale, Ryan and JJ Consultants forked out just $38,000 for Express Pass (Wandjina) who has subsequently earnt $500,000 and gained black type.
The growth of Ryan’s team can be further emphasised by his increased presence in the commercial bloodstock market. This year Ryan purchased 10 yearlings for a total spend of $1.5 million which is a 137 per cent increase on his spend in 2022. Not only is he an astute judge of yearlings, Ryan has had great success in the tried racehorse market. Spending $370,500 across six tried horses from 2021 to 2023, Ryan has prepared the gallopers to earn over $500,000. Former Perth galloper Not To Be Mist (Danehill Express) is Ryan’s most successful purchase based on return on investment. Purchased for $50,000 in the 2021 Inglis Digital June Sale (Late), in 15 starts Not To Be Mist has earned over $162,000 in prizemoney including a Country Cup win, a Saturday metropolitan win and is now stakes placed.
If the past five years are anything to go by, it is clear that Ryan will continue to make his presence felt in the training ranks. With runners nominated across three states this weekend, there might just be a few more reasons to celebrate as the 2022/23 season comes to a close.
