Hus Der Lieften will be the headline act for Gerald Ryan at Rosehill on Saturday but the trainer is also excited about the return of Melbourne Cup prospect Ready to Lift.The mare was a gallant runner-up to Scenic Shot in the Brisbane Cup (2400m) in June and returned to Sydney after a short break at Ryan's Murwillumbah stable.Her season opener will be in the 1500m open handicap on Saturday's program with Hus Der Lieften to contest the Group Three Run To The Rose (1300m)."She looks terrific," Ryan
Hus Der Lieften will be the headline act for Gerald Ryan at Rosehill on Saturday but the trainer is also excited about the return of Melbourne Cup prospect Ready to Lift.
The mare was a gallant runner-up to Scenic Shot in the Brisbane Cup (2400m) in June and returned to Sydney after a short break at Ryan's Murwillumbah stable.
Her season opener will be in the 1500m open handicap on Saturday's program with Hus Der Lieften to contest the Group Three Run To The Rose (1300m).
"She looks terrific," Ryan said.
"She will run in the 1500 metre race first-up, then go to the Premier's Cup over 1800 metres two weeks later."
The plan after that is the Kingston Town, Colin Stephen and Metropolitan Handicap on October 3.
Ryan's preferred route to the Melbourne Cup is the Moonee Valley Cup rather than the Caulfield Cup.
Ready To Lift is by More Than Ready, sire of the past two Golden Slipper winners but Ryan has always believed in Ready To Lift as a genuine staying prospect.
"Right from the start I thought she would be a stayer," he said.
"And I've always thought two miles (3200m) would be no trouble for her.
"She just gets better as she gets older."
God's Hand, one of 11 Melbourne Cup nominations for Bart Cummings, is also entered in the Rosehill race as is the Chris Waller-trained Rangirangdoo, another entered for the Cups.
The David Payne-trained Kettledrum is also entered on Saturday and has been nominated for the Caulfield Cup.
Hus Der Lieften was one of 17 entries for the Run To The Rose.
The colt made an impressive return on August 1 to beat Stryker in the Rosebud (1200m).
His Silver Slipper winning stablemate Melito will run in a barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Friday ahead of her return in the Silver Shadow Stakes on August 22, the first leg of the four-race Princess Series.