RYAN DARBY saddled the very last winner of 2003 (That's Gold) as if to serve notice that this will be a breakthrough year for him.
Despite missing from the training scene most of last year, the second generation trainer - son of trainer Robert Darby Snr. - showed his mettle in the last five weeks of the season by saddling seven winners, including TSUNAMI and ZEALOT to win back-to-back races.
Having laid the foundation, he is looking forward to the new year with great anticipation.
For Ryan, the good news is that the long wait for a stable of his own is over. A week ago he moved into new quarters formerly utilised by trainer Adin "Dreddie" Williams who, it is understood, has migrated to England.
Prior to moving, Ryan was frustrated in his efforts to find suitable stable space and was forced to share with his father.
HAPPY
"I could not expand under those circumstances," explains the young trainer. "However, I am happy with the new situation as it affords me the opportunity to increase my string of horses and widen my base," he added.
Already, Ryan has 11 horses under his care, several for leading patron, Nadon (Hubert Kerr) and a few for new owner O'Shaun Connection.
With a keen eye for good claims, he has picked up some notable offerings in the market recently, including HAPHAZARD for $380,000 on behalf of Mercedes Gold, PRETTYPRESUMPTUOUS on behalf of O'Shaun Connection for $300,000 and RAPIDASH for $250,000.
With a stable of his own, this is only the start. Ryan is constantly on the lookout for good claims. Having learnt the business from his father who not only had a large string of horses but was dubbed the 'Claiming King" in his heyday, the 29-year-old trainer, as they say in the music business - 'ready fi bus'.
Ryan, whose older brother Robert Jnr. also followed him into the training ranks, was assistant trainer to his father during the mid-90s when the big man was not only a top five trainer, but used to churn out winners like lollipops.
He fondly recalls the training feat of 1996, the year he helped his dad to prepare a claimer named PRINCE AKEEM for the prestigious Red Stripe Superstakes over 2000 metres.
To the surprise of everyone PRINCE AKEEM, running at odds of 35-1, finished second to the Trinidadian horse ADORING GROOM, beating the hot favourite and leading 'Horse of the Year' contender WAR ZONE (third) in the process.
PRINCE AKEEM was subsequently voted 'Claimer of the Year' and the exploits of that horse convinced Ryan that training was an experience that had its rewards.
Two years later, he was to become a full-fledged trainer, this after successfully completing the Jamaica Racing Commission's course for assistant trainers. His graduating class of 1998 included fellow trainers Rowan Mathie and Garrett Arscott, among others.
Ryan recalls that despite the first hand experience gained alongside his father, the JRC course prepared him to become a more complete trainer and he didn't have long to wait for his first winner, ROMANTIC HUNK, who was claimed from Mikey Mattis weeks earlier.
Thereafter the winners came at a fairly steady rate. However, by the end of 2002, Ryan felt the time was right for some overseas exposure. Early last year he journey to Florida where he hooked up with former Jamaican jockey turned trainer Colin Maragh for a while.
While in Miami, Ryan applied for a licence with a view of training in Florida, but he surprisingly decided to return home some months ago in an effort to give training one more shot locally.
Since resettling Ryan has done pretty well. His winners in recent weeks include the aforementioned TSUNAMI and ZEALOT, as well as SEEMELATER, CHAMBA KOO and the grey THAT'S GOLD.
To many observers, the most positive aspect of Ryan's training career has to do with his ability to bring back horses fresh and nicely conditioned. He attributes this to a proper nutrition programme, among other things.
BEST RESULTS
"You have to organise yourself to achieve the best results as a trainer," he says. "You can't take anything for granted when you're dealing with horses. Proper conditioning and keeping them sound are but one aspect of training.
"Within the claiming network you have to develop the knack of placing your horses in the correct claiming weight in order to win on a consistent basis," explained the Kingston College old boy.
"In many instances when dealing with problem horses you have to ease up on them track workload and increase the pool activity. Swimming works for 80 per cent of horses but the thing is to know what is best for each horse," he added.
Ryan's goal for 2004 is to finish among the top 10 - a feat he believes he can achieve with hard work, application and a little luck. After that, only heaven knows how far he can go.
- O.C.
