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By Ray Hickson

The patient approach has served promising three-year-old Heart Of The Oak well so far and trainer Gerald Ryan hopes she can now start a surge through the grades at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

The filly had three starts towards the end of winter for two wins and a second but if you believe what you see in trials she’s gone up a notch.

Ryan said the ability is there for her to give the Ranvet Handicap (1200m) at shake first-up.

“She’s always been a nice filly, an immature filly, she’s tallish and doesn’t carry a lot of condition,’’ he said.

“She was light last prep and that’s why she was late running. We decided to stop and give her a bit more time and hopefully we can tackle something nice in the autumn with her.

“We always thought she was a stakes filly, that she could get there.’’

Heart Of The Oak, a $5 chance in TAB’s market on Tuesday, has looked the part in winning both trials at Rosehill in December under race day jockey James Innes Jnr.

Heart Of The Oak wins a trial at Rosehill on December 30

Ryan said she’s proven already in her short career she has good race sense that will serve her well in what looks a competitive race.

“She’s pretty adaptable, she’s sat up on the speed and also got back,’’ he said.

“I like the way when she got back the other day how she hit the line in the trial.’’

The owner of Snitzel three-year-old Rammstein has also been patient and Ryan believes the decision to geld him could make him as a racehorse.

Rammstein had a patchy first preparation with his best effort a second to Diamond Thunder at Hawkesbury in April but he’s been a different horse in his two trials.

“He’s hard to get a line on because he’s not a real good worker and it is only when he jumps out of the gates that he finds a few lengths,’’ Ryan said.

“He has shown ability but was inclined to do things wrong.

“We gelded him and tidied his joints a bit and gave him four months out. He’s come back better in the brain and a more settled horse.’’

He has been kept safe at $5 in TAB’s market for the Drinkwise Plate (1200m).

Meanwhile, Ryan has taken over the training of Oakleigh Plate winner Booker and said she’s coming along well for a possible autumn preparation before being sold at a broodmare sale later in the year.

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's Warwick Farm meeting