Ryan keeps faith in Love’s A Fantasy

Trainer Gerald Ryan will apply winkers to Love’s A Fantasy at Rosehill.

Gerald Ryan has decided to use winkers for the first time on Love’s A Fantasy in a bid to sharpen up a mare susceptible to near misses.

The trainer hopes the gear change will coax the six-year-old to the line in a Benchmark 82 Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Since winning her first start at Gosford in July, 2015, Love’s A Fantasy has been a source of frustration with only two victories in her next 24 starts.

Love’s A Fantasy has seven minor placings over that time frame, and on nine occasions she trailed the winner by two lengths or less.

“She never gets beaten by much,” Ryan said.

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“She always runs honest races and keeps finishing somewhere between a length and a half and 2-1/2 lengths behind them.”

Winkers are not as restrictive as blinkers and Ryan hopes they will lead to a change of fortune.

“One day things will fall into place for her. You can’t fault the mare,” Ryan said.

Love’s A Fantasy’s most recent victory was over 1400 metres at Warwick Farm in July on a soft track and Ryan was hoping the predicted rain came.

“She has good wet track form so a bit of rain might help her,” Ryan said.

“She’ll get back, wind up and finish somewhere amongst them.”