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By Ray Hickson

It’s no surprise that Brock Ryan says The Gong is a race that he’ll always remember after the scenes of two years ago when he steered Count De Rupee to a popular local victory in Kembla Grange’s richest event.

Jockey Brock Ryan chases his second win in The Gong on Saturday. (Pic: Bradley Photos)

And if he can cause an upset on Cuban Royale, Ryan said it would mean so much to him given a long association with the gelding’s connections.

The nine-year-old was a $51 chance with TAB on Wednesday in the $1m Illawarra Mercury Gong (1600m) as he chases his sixth win on his home track.

“Keith and Jan Meadows, who bred Cuban Royale, are really good friends of ours and they’ve supported me through my career,’’ Ryan said.

“It’d be really good to win the Gong for them and their owners.

“We had an open day down at their property towards the start of the prep, they were talking about how they were aiming Cuban Royale at this race this preparation and all the owners were stoked.

“They can’t wait to have a day out.

“There’s not as much pressure this year but winning this race is still one of my best memories on a racetrack so far in my career. It was a shame we didn’t get to see (Count De Rupee) go on and win more races.”

Regardless of the result, what the Robert and Luke Price stable has been able to achieve with the horse is remarkable – he won a Benchmark 78 at last year’s Gong meeting, in a deceptive finish, as a $31 chance and here he is a year later graduating to the feature at the age of nine.

That win was at the start of a preparation that saw him win the Listed Carrington Stakes in January and place in the Group 3 Newcastle Stakes, and this spring he’s notched another Group 3 placing in the Bill Ritchie so while he only just squeezed into the field he’s not out of place.

“He doesn’t have the credentials of a couple of others in there but he’s one of those horses that can pop up at big odds,’’ Ryan said.

“The boys reckon he’s ticking over pretty well.

“If we can get a bit of luck and some clear running he can hit the line strong. If the race pans out in his favour he could definitely run a hole.”

Cuban Royale is the type of horse that’s made a habit of sneaking into the finish at generous odds – his three wins in the past 12 months have come at $31, $17 and $14 and he was a $19 chance when he chased home subsequent Epsom winner Rediener in the Bill Ritchie.

Ryan, 29, said his last start fourth in the Listed Ladies Day Cup (1600m) at Hawkesbury was full of merit given how the conditions changed throughout the meeting.

“He was prepped to run well, everything looked good with barrier on and starting on a good 4,’’ he said.

“Then we had that downpour and it ended up heavy, Hawkesbury plays to the middle and on the corner I went searching to get out there and nothing eventuated so I had to let him run on along the inside.

“Once the tracks get wet and messy it pretty much knocks his chances out.”

Among Ryan’s other rides is Victory Lane for the Price stable in the Midway Handicap (1400m) and he’s a horse that’s due for a change of luck after drawing the outside alley at his past two starts so gate eight is a luxury on Saturday.

Cuban Royale runs second in the Bill Ritchie

He ran a close second, with Ryan on board, when resuming but barrier 20 left him with little hope in the Four Pillars two weeks ago as he finished six lengths from the winner.

“He’s a pretty handy horse, gates have been his biggest downfall this preparation,’’ he said.

“He’s having to go further back but he’s still going very well. I galloped him Tuesday morning, he looks great and is feeling well.

“It’s still a bit of a sticky gate but it’s better than what he’s been drawing.”

Brock Ryan on Runwiththetide (race 3): “He’s a pretty nice horse, a nice style of horse and with a good racing style. He puts himself into the race. It probably wasn’t the best ride last start, I grabbed hold of him straight away in a small field and they went three quarter pace and dashed home.”

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