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By Ray Hickson

You could forgive trainer Blake Ryan for wondering which progressive horse Lady Extreme might run into in Saturday’s Midway Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill.

Trainer Blake Ryan (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The mare recorded four seconds placings last time in and each of those horses – Queen Of The Mile, Zoubaby, Walkin’talkin’ and Shohisha – went on to confirm the form at different levels.

Ryan has pinpointed one horse that might fit the bill as a danger to Lady Extreme but at the same time is confident, despite a less than textbook build up, she’ll play a major role in the finish.

“It looks like it’s I Am Brave, I think the others have had enough chances that they’re on an even keel at best,’’ Ryan said.

“But I Am Brave has drawn a bit awkward and has to go from a maiden win at Scone to winning a Midway on a Saturday.

“One thing I know about my mare is she does everything right, she puts herself in the race, and she tries her guts out.

“This is her level and she’s just been running into something with real upside. The way she’s going and the way she’s working whatever beats her will win.”

Lady Extreme, $4.60 with TAB on Friday, hasn’t officially trialled since she ran second to Shohisha at Rosehill back on January 18.

Ryan revealed she has had a jump out and was due to trial at Hawkesbury last week until the trials were washed out. He elected not to change plans, as there’s another Midway in two weeks he’d like to contest, and do his best to ensure she’s fit enough the old fashioned way.

“I thought do I sacrifice this race, which works, for the sake of trialling and I thought no,’’ he said.

“So I gave her a couple of really good hit outs at home with a mate. For 100 years people didn’t trial twice before they went to the races so it can still be done.”

It’s Ryan’s view that the five-year-old is at her best when she’s saved for one run at them from off the speed as opposed to her first three placings last time in where she was very handy.

So he said the barrier presents an opportunity to settle her around midfield if that’s what eventuates in the early stages.

“She’s only gone forward because she’s been a victim of ordinary draws and she’s got a bit of speed if you want to use it,’’ he said.

“The best way to ride her is that midfield role. If she drew three I’d say she’d be midfield the fence.

“If they run along enough we’ll just have one crack at them.”

Meanwhile, Ryan is hoping his new apprentice Emma Ly can notch her first win for the stable on Calgary King at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

The seven-year-old doesn’t win out of turn but Ryan expects he’ll be his usual competitive self in the Go Hire Site Rentals Handicap (1000m) after chasing home Zaragoza over the same course two weeks ago.

“He’s an old horse that keeps paying his way. He’s a place chance again, he‘ll need to find a little bit to be winning,’’ he said.

Lady Extreme runs second at Rosehill in January

“I think it is a stronger race than he ran second in the other day but he’s down below the minimum with Emma’s claim.”

Ly also rides All Black for Ryan in the JJJ Racing Handicap (1600m).

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting