John Ryan is contemplating a bold entry for La Bellota in the Prix de l’Abbaye following his runner-up finish in the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.
After finishing second in his first two starts at Yarmouth and Musselburgh, the Mehmas gelding placed fifth in the Listed Roses Stakes at York last month, in Saturday’s Group Two feature, he exceeded expectations as a 28-1 outsider, losing by just a neck to Richard Fahey’s highly regarded colt, Powerful Glory, in challenging conditions.
"We were delighted with him," said Ryan. "There’s always concern when the ground gets extreme, but the morning downpour helped loosen it up. He managed to handle it well."
Ryan noted that La Bellota is still a raw horse, but his performance suggests potential. "Going six furlongs for the first time seemed to help; he fought back well even after being headed."
While still eligible for a maiden, Ryan sees little point in lowering ambitions this late in the season. "He has an entry in the Prix de l’Abbaye. The soft ground often suits there, and now that he’s shown he can handle it, it opens up that option."
The trainer added, "He came out of the race well, exercised this morning, and hasn’t missed a beat since. We’ll see how this week goes before deciding the Abbaye, but the owner is open to travelling, whether to France or America."
"It’s an exciting time, and we’re grateful to have these options. However, we want to stay grounded and make sensible choices. There’s little point in aiming for a maiden at 1-20, and there aren’t many suitable maidens this time of year."
Ryan concluded, "He’s a big horse, and we expect he’ll improve next year if we can keep him sound."