Following a luckless second in the Listed Poseidon Stakes at Flemington at his most recent start, Hugh Bowman made sure the James Cummings-trained Ranier was not going to suffer a similar fate in a dramatic finish to Saturday's Listed Gothic Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
The outsider Brickdrop parted company with Jamie Mott shortly after the start then proceeded to loop the field to take up the running from the well-supported Yulong January.
After settling midfield in the running line, Bowman tracked three and four wide on Ranier coming in to the straight, receiving an uninterrupted run to gun down a defiant Yulong January (King Of Prussia) by a long-head with a long-neck back to Wild Planet who edged Zoutori for third. Both third and fourth looked to be hampered by the riderless horse in the closing stages. (photo Grant Courtney)
"The race didn't work out that smoothly for me, I was about to drop to the fence, I had a run on my inside but the loose horse dropped the speed which made it a bit hard," Bowman said.
"But I was able to get my horse into clear running, unlike last start, and he produced for us."
Cummings said he was undecided whether Ranier's next start will be in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) or the Group III Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) on Derby Day.
The horse brought great form here and I was impressed by his effort," Cummings said.
"Hugh asked me where I was heading with him and I said I wanted to reflect on his performance because I think he is a blow-out chance in a race like the Coolmore but he is hard to assess as he is so calm and collected.
"A race like the Carbine Club would suit him also. Because I think he is still three or four months away I've got no problem running him in the Carbine and hoping that he is a better horse when we get to, perhaps an Australian Guineas in March."
Touted as one of the nation's best maidens, Ranier shed that tag after four seconds and a third at his only four starts.
The good-looking son of Lonhro is the second foal of the talented Commands mare Kanzan whose three stakes wins included the Group III BRC Glenlogan Park Stakes.
A half-sister to the stakes-placed Giresun (Domesday), Kanzan has a 2yo filly by Medaglia D'Oro (USA) named Katalin and foaled a colt by Lonhro on September 9.
Ranier becomes the 77th stakes-winner for the charismatic champion Lonhro who is covering his 15th book of mares at Darley Stud at a fee of $55,000.
