By Glenn Davis
Melbourne trainer Nick Ryan is hoping Belle Savoir can give him a maiden Group 1 victory in the Queensland Oaks to help repay a long-standing debt to the filly’s part-owner Barb Saunders.
The 35-year-old Ryan was a former jockey, riding over 500 winners including many for Saunders, before taking out a trainers’ licence eight years ago.
“I used to ride a lot for Barb as a jockey so we go back a long way,” Ryan said.
“It’ll be very rewarding if I can train a Group 1 winner for her.”
Ryan is yet to train a winner at the highest level but went close when French import Dice Roll finished a close second in the Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield last year.
Ryan rates Belle Savoir his best chance of winning at the elite level after the filly finished second to fellow Victorian Barb Raider in the Group 2 The Roses at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
Belle Savoir is by Not A Single Doubt out of the Russell Cameron-trained Rathsallagh, who finished second to the Peter Moody-trained Riva San in the 2008 Queensland Oaks.
“Barbara bred this filly and her mother Rathsallagh and she’s very laid back like her and has a great temperament,” Ryan said.
“She was very good to the line in The Roses and that run has brought her on.”
Belle Savoir has started only five times for two wins and as many seconds after having a year off early in her career.