Another thrilling Group 1 finish unfolded at Rosehill on Golden Slipper Day, with Ciaron Maher‘s Gringotts narrowly defeating Chris Waller‘s Fangirl in the 2025 George Ryder Stakes.
2025 Geroge Ryder Stakes winner Gringotts celebrated his first Group 1 success in the Slipper Day event. Photo: © 2025 – Bradley Photos.
The Big Dance champion from the spring returned to form with a decisive photo-finish victory in the $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m).
Tommy Berry delivered a perfectly timed ride on the five-year-old gelding, securing his first Group 1 win.
“Fantastic, he trains up at Newcastle on the beach so got to thank James Harding and his team, he’s phenomenal,” Maher told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“Ozzie, heaps of the owners are here today, they just continually find these.
“Him (Gringotts) and Jimmysstar, they come into the stable about the same time, they come from the same stud, and they’ve both won a Group 1 at about a similar time, so yeah, rapt for the team, they’ve done a great job, and Tommy Berry, super.”
Berry positioned Gringotts second at the top of the straight, overtaking Royal Patronage 250m from the finish. Fangirl and Ceolwulf challenged late, creating a tight finish.
Gringotts won the George Ryder second-up, improving on his third-place finish in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup.
“I was smiling for a different reason, it wasn’t for winning, but it was just good to see him come back the way he did,” Berry said.
“You pay the believers and we’re guys that are part of the ownership team and Ciaron and Joe and all the team at home there.
“He came to me in the middle of the mounting yard today and he said ‘I know the Doncaster is our main aim, but I couldn’t have him any better for today.
“He turned up and he’s just a war horse, he knows where the line is, and he fought hard to win today.”
The $4 million Doncaster Mile at Randwick is Gringotts’ next target, with him now the $6 favourite in pre-field betting on the April 5 classic through Ladbrokes.
Winx (2016) was the last horse to complete the George Ryder Stakes / Doncaster Mile double.
2025 George Ryder Stakes Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | GRINGOTTS (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Tommy Berry | 4 | 59kg | $6 | |||
| 2 | 10 | FANGIRL | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 0.02L | 9 | 57kg | $5 | ||
| 3 | 1 | CEOLWULF (NZ) | Joseph Pride | Chad Schofield | 0.15L | 2 | 59kg | $3.90EF | ||
| 4 | 3 | ROYAL PATRONAGE (FR) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 0.67L | 3 | 59kg | $3.90EF | ||
| 5 | 2 | TOM KITTEN | James Cummings | Ben Melham | 1.45L | 11 | 59kg | $8 | ||
| 6 | 11 | STEFI MAGNETICA | Bjorn Baker | Jason Collett | 1.7L | 5 | 57kg | $16 | ||
| 7 | 8 | KOVALICA (NZ) | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 2.36L | 8 | 59kg | $101 | ||
| 8 | 9 | PORT LOCKROY | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Mark Zahra | 2.37L | 7 | 59kg | $101 | ||
| 9 | 4 | BUCKAROO (GB) | Chris Waller | Damian Lane | 2.39L | 1 | 59kg | $17 | ||
| 10 | 6 | MILITARIZE (NZ) | Chris Waller | Zac Lloyd | 4.34L | 10 | 59kg | $71 | ||
| 11 | 7 | CELESTIAL LEGEND | Les Bridge | Hugh Bowman | 6.6L | 6 | 59kg | $61 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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