On New Year’s Day the Group 3 Standish Handicap was run at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. This 1200m race, worth $200,000 in prize money, was won by sprinter Ahdashim for trainer Gerald Ryan.

It was a special win for Gerald Ryan who as a jockey won the Standish Handicap in 1987 on board Burano in the same racing colours as worn by Ahdashim this year.

Riden by jockey Craig Williams, Ahdashim surged clear inside the last 100m to win from the fast finishing Chasm by 1.3 lengths with Eclair Mystic third.

Ahdashim’s next target after a break at his Rosehill stables could be Victoria’s top sprint race, the $1 million Group 1 Newmarket Handicap over 1200m at Flemington on March 12th. Ryan believes that the Newmarket Handicap could appeal to the five-year-old Elusive City gelding as he has won two of his three races down the Flemington straight.

“We might give him a freshen up and come back down and have another crack at one of those sprint races in the autumn with him,” Ryan said. “He might be a lightweight chance in the Newmarket because he goes well up the straight.”

Ahdashim’s racing career now stands at 26 starts for 6 wins, 7 seconds and 2 thirds with a total of $462,375 in prize money.

2011 Standish Handicap Results