Winx was a four timer in it but the 2023 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday shapes as a ripper.
2023 GEORGE RYDER STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The George Ryder Stakes is a Group 1 race for three year olds and above conducted by the Australian Turf Club at Rosehill Gardens.
The George Ryder Stakes was first run in 1903 and was won by Cressy.
The George Ryder Stakes is run over 1500m under WFA conditions and was originally called the Railway Stakes. It was a handicap until 1974 and has had various distances from 1200m to 1500m.
It was lifted to $1,000,000 in stakes in 2014 and is still there.
Pierro was the last 3yo to win it. In the last 29 years, seven 3yos have won including a trifecta of them in 1996 when Ravarda defeated Encores and Flying Spur.
Female winners have not been to the fore. Before Winx came along, the last one to win was Heat of the Moment in 1986. Forbidden Love added to them in 2022.
Last horse to win after running in a handicap was Think It Over in 2021.
George Ryder-Doncaster double - Dame Acre (1918), Hem (1919), Dalrello (1975), Emancipation (1983), Racing To Win (2006), Haradasun (2007), Vision And Power (2009), Winx (2016).
While Winx didn't go to the Doncaster after winning in 2019, the second and third horses (Brutal and Dreamforce) would then quinella that race anyway. Dreamforce made amends in the George Ryder a year later.
Hareeba lost the 1995 George Ryder to a positive swab.
International horses won back to back with the UK's Gordon Lord Byron (2014) and Japan's Real Impact (2015) taking it out.
Chris Waller has trained most winners with seven and they've come in the last 13 years including the trifecta in 2016 (Winx, Kermadec & Press Statement).
Hugh Bowman has ridden the winner seven times which incorporates the incomparable Winx in the last four years. On each occasion she has dropped back in trip to win. Her 2017 win was a remarkable thrashing of good horses.
Notable Winners of the George Ryder Stakes include Time And Tide (1964, 1967), Baguette (1971), Triton (1972), All Shot (1973), Manikato (1979, 1980), Emancipation (1983, 1984), Campaign King (1987, 1988), Schillaci (1993), Lonhro (2003, 2004), Weekend Hussler (2008), Pierro (2013), Winx (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) and Think It Over (2021).
The 2022 George Ryder Stakes was won by Forbidden Love from Colette and Laws Of Indices.
