George Ryder Stakes

THE George Ryder Stakes is a group one race for three-year-olds and over ran under weight-for-age conditions across the 1500m, held every year at Rosehill in Sydney.

The race is typically ran in March as part of Golden Slipper Day and is worth $1,000,000, although it has not always been the case over the 120-year history. It only became a group 1 event in 1980.

The race is an important one in the Sydney autumn racing carnival given the winner of the George Ryder is exempt from the ballot of the Doncaster Mile.

Originally ran as the Railway Stakes, the George Ryder Stakes was renamed in 1974 after George E. Ryder who was a racing administrator, stud master and businessman.

Given the race is a preamble to the Doncaster Mile, the George Ryder Stakes can be a great indicator of success in the prestigious race.

In the last 15 years four horses, Winx (2016), Vision And Power (2009), Racing To Win in 2007 and Haradasun in 2006 have gone on to claim the Doncaster Mile after claiming the George Ryder Stakes.

Best George Ryder Stakes bookmakers

The George Ryder Stakes is one of the biggest races of the Sydney autumn, which means all-in markets open months in anticipation of the race.

The regular tote and fixed odds markets open typically a week before the race, but that will vary from bookmaker to bookmaker.

Sport Table

2021 George Ryder Stakes betting odds

Gone were the days where George Ryder Stakes betting markets would open and Winx would be installed as an outright favourite, with no rival within earshot of the great mare.

For the 2021 running, Ole Kirk is the $4.20 favourite following his win in the Caulfield Guineas in the spring, and an impressive start to his autumn campaign thus far. A win in the George Ryder Stakes will be his third Group 1 success for the Hawkes team.

Sharing the second line of betting is the ever consistent Dreamforce who broke through for his first Group 1 win in this race last year, whilst Fierce Impact will be looking to add another Group 1 to his ever impressive record. Kolding also shares the second line of betting, with all three runners havings odds of $8 available.

George Ryder Stakes betting guide

Despite some hot priced favourites in Winx and Pierro getting the job done in the George Ryder in recent times, the race has not always been kind to the bookies’ elect.

Since 1983 there has been 11 double-figured price winners in the group one race, averaging a return of just over $18.

To further compound the woes of favourite backers, just five favourites in the last decade have taken out the race, largely thanks to Winx winning four George Ryder Stakes in successive years.

The race has invariably been a male-dominated group one. In 2016 Winx snapped a 30 year streak of dominance by male horses in the George Ryder Stakes.

Jockey Hugh Bowman is one to follow in the George Ryder Stakes, with six wins to his name in the great race, with four aboard Winx. Whilst superstar trainer Chris Waller has notched up seven wins in the Group 1 event.

2020 George Ryder Stakes result

Recent George Ryder Stakes winners

• 2020: A Peach from Nash gives Dreamforce the cash
  Dreamforce and The Bostonian were the first two out and they were the first two home! The John Thompson-trained Dreamforce had finished third behind Winx in 2019, but managed to take out his first Group 1, by holding out the fast finishing The Bostonian in a brilliant front running ride by Nash Rawiller. Te Akau Shark had been backed into an odds-on favourite for the 2020 George Ryder Stakes but could do no better than a third place finish.
• 2019: Winx, George Ryder Stakes, you know the rest
  Winx was in this race. Nothing more needs to be said. For the purposes of history however we will run you through the race. Jumping out to a comfortable position, Hugh Bowman just let Winx do her thing, staying three-wide for the trip before coming four-wide before the turn. As you can imagine it didn’t matter, Winx put the race to bed before the 300m to record a fourth-straight success in the George Ryder.
• 2018: Winx sails straight on by to bring up a hat trick of George Ryder's
  It was a record-setting day for Winx as the mighty mare recorded yet another Group 1 win. Settling midfield it was only a matter of when, not if, Winx would win. Sailing past early pace maker Invincible Gem and cruised to victory ahead of Happy Clapper and Kementari.
• 2017: Another sit and steer for Bowman as Winx goes back to back
  Winx again proved that it’s the queen of the turf by winning its second consecutive George Ryder Stakes and 16th consecutive race overall. The Chris Waller-trained champion mare cruised up to the opposition around the turn at Rosehill before putting up multiple lengths on the field. Jockey Hugh Bowman never asked the mare to fully extend in the heavy conditions and the win was considered one of Winx’s greatest feats.
• 2016: Winx shows her class to the world
  
  The 2016 edition of the George Ryder Stakes was all about one horse – Winx. The superstar Waller runner came into the race as one of the shortest priced favourites in a long while. The $1.90 favourite did not disappoint in completing a dominant 1.5 length win. Read a full report.
• 2015: The Japanese make a Real Impact
  Japanese raider Real Impact came into the race as a double figure outsider, but when it found the front early in the race it looked like an upset could be on the cards. In the latter stages of the race the more fancied Criterion matched strides and headed Real Impact in the final 100m, but the Japanese horse found something on the line and won a tight photo.
• 2014: Lord Byron cause massive upset
  Notch up another win for the international raiders. Irish star Gordon Lord Byron was not expected to make much of an impact in its Australian debut but the gelding stunned the Australian racing scene. After getting a solid run in transit the despised outsider pinched a beautiful run on the inside and surged to the line to topple Speediness in the shadows of the post.
• 2013: Pierro proves far too good
  It is not often the short-priced favourites have saluted over the last 10 years in the George Ryder but Waterhouse superstar Pierro certainly bucked that trend in 2013. The shortest priced favourite in the history of the race ($1.35) did not have it all its own way but saluted to send favourite backers home happy.

George Ryder Stakes Honour Roll

George Ryder Stakes Past Winners Pre 2000

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