After recently returning from an injury-enforced layoff, Gerald Ryan’s progressive colt Bachman will race second-up in Saturday’s Hawkesbury Guineas as he heads towards a winter run in the Queensland Derby 2015 in Brisbane.

The son of All American has had 10 starts to date for two wins, but has had just the one run since last October after he suffered an injury post his sixth to Fontein Ruby in the Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) during the spring.

The mishap occurred on the water walker, not in a gallop or track work, and saw Bachman miss out on a chance in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington last Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Winner of the Group 3 The Schweppervescence (1400m) last April, Bachman returned to the races on April 18 at Randwick in a 1200m Benchmark 85 run on a Soft (6).

Not boasting great form on rain-affected tracks, unsurprisingly he could only manage to run fourth to Dublin Lass in the race.

Ryan was pleased with the luckless run that also saw his colt checked in the straight.

Saturday he heads to Hawkesbury where he’ll step up in distance for a shot at the $150,000 Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) against a host of livewire chances including the John O’Shea-trained Federal and Paul Messara’s Arrowfield 3YO Sprint third placed Rekindled Power.

Having won one of his previous two 1400m runs Bachman, a Jason Collett mount on Saturday, is out to improve on his first-up run with Ryan still keen as mustard to send him up to Brisbane after that targeting the $600,000 Group 1 Queensland Derby (2200m) on Stradbroke Day at Doomben Racecourse, June 6.

The horse may only have winning form up to 1400m, but Ryan is confident the step up to 2200m for the Derby in the ‘Sunshine State’ will suit based on his breeding.

“He has done well since his first race and the Queensland Derby is definitely the aim,” Ryan told AAP.

“I believe the 2400 metres will be his forte. He is bred to get the distance.”

Bachman’s sire All American is a Group 1 winner, but the pedigree from his dam’s side is where the ability to run all day will come in, with the Group 1 placed Ain’t Seen Nothin’s own mother being 1995 Victoria Derby winner Nothin’ Leica Dane.

Ryan will be dually represented in Saturday’s Hawkesbury Guineas field this year too having also entered his smart Gosford Guineas winning filly Ygritte who will be ridden by Sam Clipperton.

The daughter of Snitzel has won two of her dozen runs so far, including the win over fellow Hawkesbury rival on Saturday Federal in the Listed Gosford Guineas (1200m).

Her latest run was also promising when Federal turned the tables and beat her home by two to win the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m) on April 11, third-placed Ygritte posting her second Heavy track third from as many runs in the mud.

“She is an honest, consistent filly who gives her best,” Ryan said.

“She does well in the stable and always tries her best.”

After Saturday her next major assignment is likely to be the $400,000 Inglis Guineas at Scone on May 16.

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