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By Ray Hickson

A small change of plan for Attractable’s lead up to Tuesday’s $3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Royal Randwick hasn’t dented Sara Ryan’s belief that the horse has what it takes to land the trainer her biggest win.

Trainer Sara Ryan (Pic: Bradley Photos).

After qualifying for the race by winning the Coffs Harbour Cup back in August, Ryan wanted to tackle the Big Dance third-up but the five-year-old put so much into his first-up run she elected to pivot and she feels it’s been the right move.

Attractable set up a strong tempo in the $1.5m Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill a month ago and finished a close fourth behind Big Dance favourite Cepheus.

“There were a few changes to plan, we were planning to run him twice in the lead up,’’ Ryan said.

“After the Alan Brown I was worried he would be plain at his next run and be flat for the Big Dance so we trialled him and I couldn’t be happier with him.

“He was super impressive (first-up), he went a little bit too quick and he was just busting his guts early on in the race. I didn’t expect him to be that forward for the Alan Brown.”

So Ryan sent Attractable back to the trials at Newcastle and she said to pay no attention to the fact he was a little tardy out and didn’t take up his usual on pace position.

“He’s such a clever horse he knows when it is a trial and when it’s race day,’’ she said.

“In his trials he’s always a little slow out, he was only there to have a blow out.

“When he was a baby he was a handful, really colty, he was always very quick on his feet. Now he’s worked out what he needs to do.”

Jockey Regan Bayliss put the gelding through his final piece of work on Friday and Ryan said while her plan to run twice didn’t happen she was rapt when she saw the barrier draw.

It means Bayliss will be able to ride Attractable, $13 with TAB on Sunday, to his strengths.

“I really wanted to draw Iknowastar inside me, I see those two rolling away from everything else. I don’t know what Banju is going to do,’’ she said.

“I didn’t want a barrier too close to the fence, I like him outside horses. If he’s outside a horse and chasing he just gives everything he has.

“He loves to compete, he really tries every time.”

Regardless of the result in the second running of the Big Dance, Ryan is already considering how she can get Attractable, and perhaps other horses, qualified for the 2024 edition.

The first of the Big Dance eligible races for next year is once again the Goulburn Cup, run on Sunday, with the full schedule of Country Cups to be released in the near future.

While still early in her training career, Ryan said it’s head-spinning to be involved in a race worth $3 million.

Attractable's first-up run in the Alan Brown

“I’m terrified but I absolutely love the challenge,’’ she said.

“Having to plan to target the Big Dance and how we get there, it’s a great learning curve and I’m glad just to be part of it.

“It’s a great initiative and I don’t see why he can’t qualify again.”

All the entries, form and replays for Tuesday's Randwick meeting