Ryan Hoping For A Debut Surprise

WELL bred first starter Lemon Surprise is one of the more interesting runners on a 10-event card at Launceston this Monday night.

Lemon Surprise, a daughter of Cutting Edge and Lemon Sunrise, makes her race track debut in race two – The Three Steps On George Stake – over the 278 metres from box four.

"Lemon Surprise is at the point where she's ready to start racing although we do think she'll be better when she gets over further distance," said her trainer Patrick Ryan in the lead up to Monday night's debut assignment.

"It can be hard to get field trials over here but in the ones she's had she's began well and really had a crack – exactly what you want to see with the young ones going into their first start."

Early markets for the second event at Launceston on Monday night see the race as $4.00 the field … suggesting bookies are having difficulty assessing and unravelling what is a rather difficult form race.

"The litter is showing promise," Ryan added.

"All their rearing, education and pre-training was done by us so we've been able to get a good guide on where they are at; these pups are no superstars but with time they will furnish into handy types.

"These 278 metre races are always hit and miss but I expect her to give a good sight at her debut … but as I said I think she'll be better when she gets over longer. She's a very good chaser."

In race seven on Monday night, the Butch Deverell-trained Apollo Blue looms as one of the better bets of the card, the son of Fernando Bale chasing a 19th career win.

Drawn suitably in box one, early markets have the grand galloper around the $2.10 mark on the strength of a terrific last start second at the track and distance to the flying Nitro Sambar.

Winner at seven of 16 starts when wearing the red rug, Apollo Blue looks an outstanding chance of returning to the winner's list on Monday.

Meanwhile, Patrick Ryan reported that his comeback sprinter Currajong Kid has suffered another serious injury after making a winning return last week at Hobart over the 340 metres.

"He tore his other back muscle at the start of the race last Thursday, I could hear him yelping right away, how he still won I'll never know," Ryan said.

"He just gave his all, the dog is a mighty chaser. Currajong Kid has been a special dog from day one. He won his first start at Devonport in 25.25 which is unheard of for a pup.

"Everything was going right for his return at Hobart but this new injury will have him on the sidelines for another 5-6 months.

"It seems to only happen to the fast ones."