Winx continues winning spree in G1 Ryder
Outstanding racemare Winx has continued on her winning way, fending off two stablemates to claim the Group One George Ryder Stakes.
Giving jockey Hugh Bowman his 50th Group One win, Winx led in a Chris Waller-trained trifecta in beating Kermadec and Press Statement at Rosehill on Saturday.
Bowman had to call on Winx’s champion qualities and when the mare was caught wide in the early stages he sent her forward to sit in third with Turn Me Loose leading and First Seal racing to her inside.
As the field fanned on the turn, Winx chimed in strongly and after a short struggle with Kermadec she drew away to post her eighth consecutive win.
Kermadec showed he is on target to go back-to-back in the Doncaster Mile while Press Statement acquitted himself well at his first start at weight-for-age.
Waller said he couldn’t rule Winx out of running in the Doncaster.
“I’ll think about the Doncaster. Obviously the Queen Elizabeth is the race we have set her for from the start of the carnival. But you can’t ignore a three-million-dollar race the week before,” he said.
Winx win gave Waller his 13th Group One success for the season.