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By John Schell

The Rosehill-based training partnership of Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou will have a strong team in action at Goulburn on Tuesday with a number of leading contenders spread across the eight-race card.

First starter, Lady Doris ($5 on TAB), opens the day for Ryan and Alexiou when the three-year-old filly lines up in the Goulburn Carpet Court Maiden Handicap (1000m) with Brandon Lerena to ride.

Lady Doris has had two barrier trials to prepare for her debut and finished a close-up fourth in the latest of them at Rosehill.

Azayaka (Brandon Lerena) scores at Muswellbrook. Image by Bradley Photographers

Lerena will also partner Azayaka ($8) for Ryan and Alexiou in the Doyles Seafood Restaurant Class 1 Handicap (1000m).

Azayaka was a maiden winner at Muswellbrook two starts ago before finishing fifth at Gosford at her latest outing.

She’s drawn ideally in barrier one for the Goulburn assignment.

Ryan and Alexiou will combine with apprentice Zac Wadick when Emancipist ($5.50) starts in the Divalls Earthmoving Class 1 Handicap – Heat Of The Rising Star (1200m).

Emancipist has shown glimpses of ability in his career and was a winner at Goulburn in July last year.

The gelding looked good when finishing second to stablemate Union Army in a barrier trial before resuming with a second behind Nicci’s Gem at Kembla Grange when narrowly beaten.

Lerena has another ride for the stable in the shape of Super Defense ($15) in the Goulburn Hay Supplies Maiden Plate (1500m).

Super Defense had three trials in July and August last year, and since returning to training he’s had a further two trials in which he’s missed a place in each.

Cintia ($51) is Ryan and Alexiou’s other runner at Goulburn with Jeff Penza to ride the filly in the Goulburn Express Freight Maiden Plate (1200m).

Cintia had shown some talent on her trials before debuting in city grade with a down the track effort at Canterbury but will find the Goulburn event an easier assignment.

Another Ryan will also be looking for success at Goulburn when Blake Ryan saddles up last start winner Santasia ($1.95 favourite) in the same race as Azayaka. Santasia led throughout to score at Kembla Grange in her second race start.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Goulburn here