We currently have Winx at $1.20 to win Saturday’s Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens.
The equine superstar is gunning for her twenty-fourth consecutive win when she takes her place in the small George Ryder Stakes field and is currently available at the market-best price in our lucrative market.
Winx appreciates a bit of the cut out of the ground and was subsequently met with less-than-ideal conditions through much of her spring preparation, though that did not stop her continuing her incredible undefeated streak and more importantly, securing a third-consecutive Cox Plate.
Trainer Chris Waller and connections elected not to saddle Winx in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes as a first point of call this time, to allow the suspended Hugh Bowman to continue his affiliation with the champion.
Having galloped on the course proper between races on Apollo Stakes Day however, Winx resumed for a dominant win in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) a fortnight ago and is primed for another massive second-up performance in the George Ryder.
While small, the George Ryder Stakes field is dripping with class and this is the first time we’ll get to see Winx face off with boom three-year-old Kementari ($9.50).
The Lonhro colt has shown plenty of ability throughout his entire racing career so far, but is undoubtedly in career-best form to date at current and will carry only 56kgs in his fourth-up assignment here.
Kementari put a quality field of three-year-olds to the sword in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) first-up this time and has since won both the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) with complete ease.
This is obviously a big step up in class for the Doncaster Mile-bound colt, but he could not have enjoyed a better lead in and ranks as Winx’s biggest threat in Saturday’s feature race.
Popular gelding Happy Clapper will take plenty of improvement into his second-up run on Saturday and represents terrific value to round out the quinella at current $18/$2.50 odds.
The Teofilo gelding has been a strong and consistent performer for Pat Webster throughout his entire racing career and finally broke through for a maiden win at the highest level in last year’s edition of the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m).
Sent to the paddock after finishing sixth in the Cox Plate and second in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (2000m), Happy Clapper jumped a $4.50 favourite in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) first-up this time and justified his market position with an impressive win.
The horse has finished just behind Winx several times previously and he has the class and ability to go close again on Saturday.
Invincible Gem ($34) ran on well to finish third in the Canterbury Stakes first-up and will take improvement into this, while Crack Me Up ($81) and Clearly Innocent ($91) complete the market.