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By Brad Gray

Brock Ryan has only ever had a handful of rides in town but with a book of eight at Rosehill on Saturday, the young apprentice is hopeful of cracking his first metro winner.

Ryan only returned to the saddle in mid-May after suffering a broken collar bone in a fall at Wellington in March but wasted no time getting back among the winners, steering his first two rides to victory at Kembla Grange for his master Gwenda Markwell.

“It’s good to be back. I still get a bit of niggling pain in my shoulder but that will go away in time. They said it will probably take three months to fully heal,” Ryan said.

“Gwenda put me on a couple of sit and steer jobs. From there I’ve had plenty of opportunities since I’ve been back and now I’m starting to make my way into town which is great.

“This weekend will be my best chance to make an impression on a Saturday (in town).”

Among Ryan’s better chances looks to be Reincarnate who is second-up in the TAB.com.au Handicap (1200m) after Ryan weaved a passage on the four-year-old to run an encouraging sixth a fortnight ago.

Reincarnate's Rosehill return

“It was a great effort first-up. Darren (Beadman) told me to keep him settled, not to rev him up and just let him finish off his last 200m. I dare say this time he’ll be a lot fitter,” Ryan said.

“He’s not a horse you can choke down and pull him back. He’s pretty free-running so I’ll put him up there and hopefully he can get the job done.”

The Godolphin operation has been a strong supporter of Ryan, who made an immediate impression in blue silks with a winning double at Wyong this time last year.

“It started with Gwenda getting into Darren’s ear and then Darren getting into John O’Shea’s ear for me. I had a bit of luck for them the first time I rode for them and have had some good opportunities since then.”

Meanwhile, Ryan expects Dreamforce to be hard to catch in #TheRaces Handicap (1500m) with a drop in the weights in his favour.

“Blaike McDougall told me he rides him every day at track work and is a really nice horse. He’s always up there on the speed but just of the late a couple have been running over the top of him,” said Ryan.

“Hopefully with the claim I can skip away from them, and with the step back 100m, won’t give the other chances much of a chance.”

Ryan has also been booked for veteran gallopers Mighty Lucky and Famous Seamus who will be looking to turn back the clock.

“They are top class older horses and if they show their best they’re good chances.”

“I’ve also got two for Theresa (Bateup) and they are both really honest horses. Giant’s Daughter is down in the weights and we’ll probably go forward from the barrier while Fleeting Strike is another constant mare and she always tries her best. Stepping up in distance will definitely suit her.”

Check out the fields, form and replays for Rosehill on Saturday