Rothesay will have plenty of admirers at Rosehill on Saturday and trainer Gerald Ryan expects racegoers to be impressed by what they see when the entire walks into the mounting yard."He's a striking individual," the trainer said."You'll be flat out seeing a better-looking horse tomorrow at Rosehill."The talented four-year-old makes his return in the Group Two Theo Marks Stakes (1400m) and Ryan is as interested as anyone to see how the race pans out.Rothesay has firmed from an opening quote of $4
Rothesay will have plenty of admirers at Rosehill on Saturday and trainer Gerald Ryan expects racegoers to be impressed by what they see when the entire walks into the mounting yard.
"He's a striking individual," the trainer said.
"You'll be flat out seeing a better-looking horse tomorrow at Rosehill."
The talented four-year-old makes his return in the Group Two Theo Marks Stakes (1400m) and Ryan is as interested as anyone to see how the race pans out.
Rothesay has firmed from an opening quote of $4.40 on Thursday to $3.60 with TAB Sportsbet while favourite More Joyous has drifted from $2.30 to $2.60.
"I don't know whether it's exciting or nerve-racking," Ryan said ahead of Rothesay's spring return.
"He's a horse I put a wrap on, he's probably got the potential to be nearly one of the best I've had but I've been lucky and had a few nice horses over the years."
The son of Fastnet Rock has a record of four wins and two placings from seven starts.
The only time he's failed to finish in the placings was when he bled in the Roman Consul Stakes at Randwick last October.
Impressive wins in the Lord Mayors Cup and Queensland Guineas during the Brisbane winter carnival stamped him as a potential topliner but Ryan believes he has to take another step up if he is to match it with, and beat, the best around this spring.
The Theo Marks presents the perfect chance to test Rothesay with six Group One winners in the field of 11 including More Joyous and dual Stradbroke winner Black Piranha.
"He's more forward than he was last time in because he's coming off a short break from racing in Queensland," Ryan said.
"I find it interesting to see where he sits among the better horses and this is a good race to test him in."
The Rosehill trainer didn't hesitate when nominating More Joyous as the measuring stick and horse he fears most in the Theo Marks.
Rothesay has never raced against the Gai Waterhouse-trained four-year-old but Ryan has seen enough of the mare to be suitably impressed.
"She was electrifying first-up," he said.
"I used to think Melito was a good two-year-old and good three-year-old filly in the spring and More Joyous used to beat her."
Melito played a starring role during the autumn and winter with Group One wins in the TJ Smith Stakes and Winter Stakes, and Group One placings in the All-Aged, BTC Cup, Doomben 10,000 and Stradbroke Handicap.
Ryan also can't fault three-year-old Hinchinbrook who will run in the Listed Heritage Stakes (1200m).
Hinchinbrook is coming off a disappointing showing first-up in the Group One Golden Rose (1400m) when he finished 12th.
"I wouldn't drop off the horse at all," Ryan said.
"I find it fascinating people are dropping off him on one run. He'd been to the races five times previously and never run a bad race."