Trainer Chris Waller can’t fault the preparation of his champion mare Winx on the eve of the running of the 2018 Group 1 $1m The Agency George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Winx, above, is the very short priced favourite to win her third George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Winx will be chasing her twenty-fourth straight victory as well as a hat trick of wins in the weight for age George Ryder Stakes and Waller said that everything has gone to plan since her first up Autumn Carnival run that saw her annihilate the field to record her twenty-third win on the trot in the Group 1 $600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick three weeks ago.
Winx came through an exhibition gallop in between races at Rosehill last Saturday in fine style and will go to the post as the very short priced favourite again in the six horse field.
“Winx, she has pulled up well on her last run three weeks ago, everything has gone to plan since,” Waller said.
“She had an exhibition gallop last Saturday which was standard for her, three weeks in between runs.”
“Six runners, she has drawn barrier six. It is no real concern for her, she can be where she wants to be.”
“That will be good because there is no designated leader.”
Hugh Bowman has recovered from a nasty fall form Winx’s stablemate Performer from two weeks ago in the Group 2 $300,000 UNSW Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick and will be able to keep Winx out of trouble from the outside barrier in the small field.
The Pat Webster trained Happy Clapper will carry the number one saddlecloth and Waller said that he has plenty of respect for the Canterbury Stakes winner but can’t see them troubling his world class mare.
“Happy Clapper deserves a lot of respect, Kementari has done nothing wrong against his own age group and there are three others in there as well that deserve respect,” Waller said.
“She hasn’t got the world number one rating for nothing and she is the one to beat on her home track where she won the race the last two years.”
The Rosehill track was rated a heavy 8 on Friday afternoon and the prospect of a rain affected surface doesn’t concern Waller with Winx having won in all track conditions in the past.
“It will be soft to heavy track, no concern there,” Waller said.
“Have respect for her opposition and if she holds up to her form will be the one to beat again.”
Betting at Ladbrokes.com.au on race eve has Winx as the $1.12 favourite with the James Cummings trained three year old Kementari the closest to the super mare in the market order at $7.50 with Happy Clapper marked at $14.
