Skyhook too good in The Rosebud 2025

Skyhook confirmed his status as one of Gerald Ryan’s brightest prospects with a brave victory in the Listed Rosebud at Rosehill, carrying a hefty 60.5kg to victory in a feat previously achieved only by Menari. The Written Tycoon colt edged out Grand Prairie by half a length, with the favourite Pallaton finishing third.

Ryan sees clear similarities between Skyhook and Menari, who launched his spring in 2017 with the same Rosebud triumph before winning The Run To The Rose and placing in the Golden Rose. “Jason, my long-time trackwork rider, said he’s the best horse since Menari,” Ryan said.

As a two-year-old, Skyhook captured the Pago Pago Stakes and ran in the Golden Slipper. Yet questions lingered over his wet track credentials heading into a heavy 9 surface. “I wasn’t sure he’d handle it given Written Tycoon’s record in the wet, but he’s got the constitution and didn’t need much work to come up,” Ryan said.

The plan is now to give Skyhook four weeks before contesting The Run To The Rose, then onto the Golden Rose. “He’s not a horse who thrives on back-to-back racing. We’ll stick to spacing his runs, and the program fits perfectly,” Ryan said. “He’s the only Written Tycoon we’ve bought and we’ve always loved him.”

Michael Freedman, trainer of beaten favourite Pallaton, was not disheartened by his colt’s run. “Tommy had to go back to the inside which was the worst part of the track,” he said. Freedman indicated the San Domenico Stakes or even the Moir Stakes could be next, with the latter appealing due to the light weight and strong tempo that would play to Pallaton’s strengths.