Trainer Sara Ryan's decision to split smart stablemates New Forest and Aix En Provence could see her stable land an early double blow at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
Sara Ryan accepted with both horses in the first two races on the Illawarra Turf Club card but will narrow the duo's focus on separate assignments as she hunts a pair of maiden victories.
New Forest ($2.40 favourite on TAB) will line up first in the Tle Burndy Midway Maiden Plate (1600m) with Grant Buckley aboard.
The promising son of Justify has placed in four of his six starts already including a pair of thirds in his last two runs at Newcastle and Kembla.
"New Forest is one of those horses that is just frustrating," Ryan said.
"First-up you have to throw it in the bin because it doesn't matter what you do, he never seems to be fit enough first-up.
"Then second-up he had excuses and third-up they eyed off for the first 1000m of the race and ran fast sectionals which left him with nothing left.
"I am hoping Saturday is the day he pops his cherry. He is quite a progressive horse and heads out to a trip that will suit him the most now."
Aix En Provence ($3.50) has been similarly consistent to start his career and contests the Tle Sal Maiden Plate (1400m) less than an hour later.
The Shalaa gelding continued his run of four placings in four starts with a third over 1300m at Scone last time. It's expected Aix En Provence will appreciate the rain-affected track this weekend (Heavy 10 at present).
"Everyone that keeps getting off Aix En Provence keeps telling me he wants it softer and he will get that on Saturday," Ryan said. "He is quite a nice horse.
"Him and New Forest are quite opposite, one likes to race on speed and one likes to race off it so I didn't want to put them against each other because it makes no sense.
"I can't have the speed on for one and not the other so this race looks nice for Aix En Provence where he should get an easy run."
Ryan's final runner is How Much Better ($19), who is a half-brother to smart stable sprinter Much Much Better. How Much Better is returning from a spell as a gelding in the Tle Tigerlight Class 1 Handicap (1200m) after winning one of his two starts last preparation.
"His second start he threw in the towel a bit and I don't like when colts do that so we took him home and fixed that problem," Ryan said. "He has come back a stronger horse and is quite sharp.
"We have put the blinkers on him to keep him focused." Lee Magorrian rides How Much Better.
