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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Gerald Ryan describes Grebeni as a talented horse who is “no star” but that doesn't matter as connections of the lightly raced galloper, and there are many, are in for a wild ride in 2024.

Trainer Gerald Ryan (Pic: Bradley Photos)

That’s because when Grebeni turns five in August he’ll be eligible to race for $5 million in two of the spring’s signature races – the $3 million Big Dance and $2 million Five Diamonds.

So the gelding’s owners, which number around 60, are in the enviable position of knowing exactly where they’re headed and Ryan hopes he can finish 2023 with another win in the Drinkwise Maroubra Mile (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Ryan and co-trainer Sterling Alexiou have already mapped an autumn plan that will ensure Grebeni is ready for what could be a lucrative spring.

“After Saturday he’ll only have had five runs this prep and in the autumn the plan was give him four runs,’’ he said.

“He’ll go second-up into the Hawkesbury Cup, third-up into the Scone Cup then we might try him over more ground somewhere. Perhaps give him one run up in Queensland and spell him for the winter like we did last year.

“He’s a handy horse, no star, and if we just keep placing him right he’ll keep his form.”

Grebeni earned his Big Dance eligibility for 2024 with a win in the Goulburn Cup (1400m) in early November and Ryan said his hard fought last start win put the brakes on plans to step him out in distance for now.

And it’s not a pressing matter anyway as he knows the Five Diamonds distance is no issue from posting successive wins over the Rosehill 1800m in June.

“I thought midrace he got a bit keen and wanted to get running,’’ Ryan said.

“I spoke to Kerrin (McEvoy) about it and he reckons there’s no need to stretch him out further yet.

“He’s been out to 1800m twice and won both times. Except for the Summer Cup there wasn’t really a race for him so I thought we’ll keep him back at a mile this time and give him a break and worry about it in the late autumn and into the winter.”

McEvoy again partners Grebeni, $3.50 with TAB on Wednesday, at Randwick and he’ll be asked to carry an extra 3kg on his win two weeks ago which was his sixth from 14 starts.

With a smaller field Ryan said the race could even pan out more favourably given the horse’s versatility.

“He might have got to the front a bit early, Kerrin thought that, but he was good,’’ he said.

“He’s at the top of his game, Kerrin knows what he’s capable of.

“One day he came from back in the field and won over 1800m then next start there was no speed so he led on him and won both times.”

At 16.2 hands, Commanding Artist will cut an imposing figure as he strides around the Theatre Of The Horse ahead of his debut in the Precise Air Handicap (1200m).

A half-brother to stakeswinning mare Sky Command, the Trapeze Artist colt is still a work in progress according to Ryan.

He’s trialled twice, holding his ground to run second over 900m at Rosehill in the latest, and the trainer said it’s surprised him that he’s made it to the races so soon.

Grebeni wins at Randwick on December 16

“He’s a nice big horse, he’ll probably be better when he gets a bit older. I don’t think there’ll be a taller two-year-old in the race,’’ he said.

“I’ve got a lot of time for him. Whether he’s going to make a two-year-old I’m not too sure, he’s a genuine city class horse it's just whether it’s this time in or next time in.”

Gerald Ryan on Deficit (race 5): “He just needs firm ground underneath him. He’s getting back to 2000m and he’s drawn a gate, at least stepping up in distance he might be able to take a more forward position and give himself a chance with only 55kg on his back.”

On Union Army (race 10): “He was terrific first-up, I wish he drew nine first-up and not one. He makes it hard for himself because of his pattern of racing. But at least from that gate he’s not going to get hemmed up amongst them and will have room to move. We haven’t done too much with him since because it was a hard enough run first-up."

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting