Winx makes a mockery of opposition in wet George Ryder Stakes

Winx
The brilliant Winx makes it 16 consecutive wins in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday

WE pity the fool who ever doubted that Winx wouldn’t win the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes, because the champion mare simply brained them in the wet at Rosehill.

The Chris Waller-trained mare drifted from $1.16 to $1.30 at Ladbrokes.com.au, which was incredible considering the mighty mare was chasing its 16th consecutive win – and it didn’t disappoint.

Jockey Hugh Bowman positioned Winx comfortably behind the speed before letting it find a nice rhythm coming into the turn. The race was over in the blink of an eye as Winx cleared out to score its most impressive victory since winning the 2016 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.

“It is just so special, I am really lost for words as she receives a round of applause here,” Bowman said.

“As I said there is a great deal of responsibility to be involved with her but with that comes a great deal of confidence.

“My only worry is am I going to get on her, canter to the gates one day and feel that engine just isn’t there.”

Bowman thought there would be a stronger tempo during the run, which is why he settled back, but he knew he had a good horse underneath.

“I feel like she is in the prime of her career, I expected more tempo early but I knew on the way to the barriers she meant business today,” Bowman said.

“She will be going 1500m to 2000m (Queen Elizabeth Stakes) in three weeks and I felt it was an important exercise to push her to the line today and it was special.”

Chris Waller has run out of superlatives to describe the champion mare, but amazing sums it up nicely.

Ladbrokes.com.au

“I didn’t expect her to win like that. She is just an amazing horse,” Waller said.

“It is amazing to have a horse that you’re associated with who is so well received.”

Waller confirmed that Winx will be seeking its 17th consecutive win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes during The Championships, but is mindful of how tough running on the heavy track can be.

“Like all horses you have to see how they come through the run,” Waller said.

“Running them on heavy tracks is a lot harder than running them on good tracks so you have to be mindful of that.

“The Queen Elizabeth is where we want to be next.”

Punters aren’t getting much value in the Queen Elizabeth market for Winx. Sportsbet.com.au has the mare as the $1.15 favourite, but we’ve seen Winx drift on race day over its last few starts.

Firming in the market will be Le Romain which battled on gamely for second and holding off Chautauqua in the process.

Jockey Glyn Schofield thought it was a great run, but in the end was no match for Winx which breezed by at the top of the straight.

“He ran a super race,” Schofield said. “He put a margin on Chautauqua who was close to him last week so an improved performance today, but unfortunately not good enough to beat her.

“The pace was sedate for the first couple of furlongs. I let him go and chimed in through the 500m.

“He likes a wet track so he quickened nicely for me and for 100m I thought I wonder where Winx is. Then I got my answer. Four in front.”

Chautauqua had its first run over this distance and although it didn’t live up to the early $6 odds, it did finish off well enough to consider at the mile later this campaign.

“He travelled well in the run. He probably got a bit keen cause they didn’t go that quick,” jockey Tommy Berry said.

“I was never in the race at the top of the straight, he was struggling to find his feet, but once he got to about the 250m he really knuckled down.”

Berry hasn’t ruled out the sprinting distances for Chautauqua and he still believes it has enough pace to keep up with the slick types.

“I think you will find his last furlong and a half was pretty quick but the race was over and done with by the time he warmed up. I think he will be better back to sprint trips as well,” he added.

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