Racing: Win fillip for ailing trainer

A runaway win to Midnight Cappa at Oamaru yesterday gave Rangiora trainer Richard Ryan his second success as a trainer.

But while Midnight Cappa was fighting off his own rivals over 1600m, Ryan is fighting a battle of his own.

The first-season trainer was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer last month and was not up to making the trip to Oamaru yesterday, leaving trackwork rider Jo Boakes to look after Midnight Cappa and Paco Rabanne, who ran third in a 1600m maiden.

Gallop South finance manager Lisa Butler and her husband, Brett, are among the owners of Midnight Cappa, who was part-bred by Ryan.

"He hasn't been able to travel due to sickness so he'll be rapt with that,'' Brett Butler said.

Ryan, a senior sergeant, has been in the police force in Canterbury for the past 14 years, and both the policing and racing community have rallied around in support.

A Givealittle page set up last month has already raised more than $42,000.

Fundraising efforts have included an indoor cricket match between Christchurch police and an invitational side featuring former New Zealand internationals.

"He's doing very well as a young trainer first time up,'' Butler said.

Ryan's first training win came with Monte Cinto at Timaru in March.

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