Winx For Ryder Hat Trick

Winx | Bronwen Healy

Talk during the week that Godolphin's colt Kementari (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) may cause an upset over Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) in the G1 George Ryder S. sees the last-start G1 Randwick Guineas winner start under double figure odds against the glamour mare, but really, she couldn't seriously be beaten…could she?

Aiming for her third consecutive victory in the George Ryder, and 24th straight win, there is no reason to think that Winx will not take the prize again and set herself up for the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. (2000m) followed by what could be an international campaign. Trainer Chris Waller was fielding queries this week about Winx going into the Ryder second-up this campaign as opposed to third-up this time last year, and he told Racing.com it could be a moot point.

“I remember this time last year we were questioning whether she'd be sharp enough to run against the better horses coming back in trip third-up that preparation, so I think she dispelled any doubt that year. And I think this year having just the one run into the race, she'd be close to the best she could be over the shorter distance before stepping up to the Queen Elizabeth in three weeks' time.”

“She's a very adaptable horse, she's good fresh, she's good in the last run of her preparation–there's not many chinks in her armour.”

While super impressive this time in, 3-year-old colt Kementari does look capable of running a big race, but the conditions of the race sees the colt carrying just one kilo less than Winx, something that really does not lean in his favour over the 1500m. Connections have indicated that this race is the ideal prep for the G1 Doncaster H. (1600m) in two weeks.

Last-start G1 Canterbury S. winner Happy Clapper (Aus) (Teofilo {Aus}) has obviously returned in fantastic order based on his victory over Global Glamour (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}) fresh, with trainer Pat Webster always indicating that he is more than content in running second to the great mare, and the rising 8-year-old looks ready for another top-class effort on Saturday.

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