Super star Winx cruised through her final gallop at Rosehill this morning in preparation for the 2019 Group 1 $1m The Agency George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Winx, above, has come through her final gallop before the 2019 George Ryder Stakes in great order. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Winx is the winner of the last three runnings of the weight for age George Ryder Stakes and if she can make it four in a row will stretch her unbeaten record to thirty-two straight wins and also collect her twenty-fourth Group 1 trophy.
Winx moves into barrier seven in the George Ryder Stakes field that has been reduced to eight runners following the early scratching of her stablemate Egg Tart and will be ridden again by regular partner Hugh Bowman who was Impressed with her work this morning as well as Tuesday’s.
“She feels as good as she looks,” Bowman said.
“She wasn’t out there to do a whole lot this morning, and she galloped very well here with Unforgotten on Tuesday morning.
“She’s ready for Saturday.”
The prospect of a rain affected track at Rosehill on Saturday won’t detract from the performance of Winx who has a first class wet track record of three from three on a heavy surface and five wins and a second on soft rated tracks.
“I think one of her best performances was in this race two years ago when it was a very heavy track, and with an expected wet track on Saturday that just gives us more confidence than we already have,” Bowman said.
“But it’s really just about going through the process and making sure it is a trouble-free passage for her and I’m sure she will deliver as she has done for the last four years.”
Trainer Chris Waller agreed with Bowman in that Winx was as good as ever and just hopes for a trouble free run in transit.
“And as Hugh said we’ve just got to make sure she’s trouble free and comes home safely,” Waller said.
“There’s always challengers coming through and we always respect them but ultimately we’ve got to worry about Winx and she’s picture perfect and ready to go.”
Winx has been as impressive as ever in her two 2019 Sydney Autumn Carnival runs that saw a first up win in the Group 2 $250,000 The Star Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 16 followed by a stunning win in the Group 1 $600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on March 2.
Waller has already announced retirement plans for Winx and the George Ryder Stakes will be her second last race track appearance before her swansong in the Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Day Two of The Championships on April 13.
The Rosehill track was rated a heavy 8 on Thursday morning and more showers forecast for Sydney in the lead up to the weekend will guarantee that the surface will be rain affected for the massive day of racing that will feature five Group 1 races, including the richest two year old race in the world, the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m).
Winx has stifled betting again in the George Ryder Stakes and is at the very short odds of $1.06 with Ladbrokes.com.au with the Peter and Paul Snowden trained Land Of Plenty her nearest rival in the betting at $17.
