Gerald Ryan is no stranger to Melbourne, more like a perennial visitor who seldom returns home minus the spoils.

Ryan rode for quite a few years in Victoria, he was apprenticed to Owen Lynch, at Epsom, before training privately for David Moodie, at Hobsons Lodge.

Since moving to Sydney he has 80 horses under his care at Rosehill, and has never looked backwards since settling in the harbour city.

He was back in town yesterday at one of his favourite haunts, Flemington, winning the feature race, the Chester Manifold Stakes, with the consistent Red Excitement.

Red Excitement on the outside fighting out the finish with Tried and Tired

The gelding was the form horse of the race having won at his four previous starts in Sydney; he landed quite some big bets at Flemington.

He is by, Excites, a son of Danewin, and may remain here for the Orr Stakes at the re opening of Caulfield in three weeks.

Red Excitement had been placed at 1800 metres before he went to Gerald Ryan, he described the horse as tremendous, he just puts his head down and keeps on going.

When Brenton Avdulla heard the trip was on, he immediately booked himself for the ride, he made sure he wasn’t going to miss out on the mount.

As expected Lord Of The Sky led and for much longer than anticipated, however, he was beginning to throw out distress signals at the clock tower and folded up quickly from then on, finishing mid field.

Patrick Moloney rode the horse well, he let him run along at his leisure, however, it was always thought that the long run in would find him out.

Lord Of The Sky has not won in this present preparation and it is obvious that 1200 metres is as far as he likes.

Brenton Avdulla with Gerald Ryan