First run over a century ago (1903), the George Ryder Stakes, is a $1m Group 1 race held at Rosehill, on an action pack Golden Slipper day. Although used primarily as a lead up race to the G1 Doncaster, the weight-for-age contest is no doubt one of the key races on the Sydney Autumn Carnival calendar.
Champion mare Winx, was able to win the George Ryder four years running, from 2016-2019. She also completed the George Ryder/Doncaster double in 2016. Last year’s feature was taken out by Think It Over.
Looking at the market for this year’s race, Dabble has in form mare Forbidden Love favourite at $3.50, just in front of Mo’unga at $4.00. Colette, who will be looking to hit back after her lacklustre last start, is on the next line at $6.00, and Private Eye is the last runner under double figures at $6.50.
If the market is anything to go by, this year’s George Ryder looks an open contest. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2022 George Ryder Stakes along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. Kolding (5) – $34
Jockey – Jason Collett 59kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Was plain first up in the G2 Apollo Stakes behind Think It Over, before showing some signs of improvement last start in the G1 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick. Will need to improve further here to have any chance of winning, but does step up in trip and gets to Rosehill where he has performed well in the past.
2. Mo’unga (4) – SCRATCHED
Jockey – Tommy Berry 59kg
Trainer – Annabel Neasham
Returned in good style in the G1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield, where he finished 2nd to Sierra Sue. Returns to Rosehill here, where he is unbeaten in two starts, and the step up to 1500m second up looks ideal. With the benefit of a run under his belt, he looks very hard to beat in this.
3. Private Eye (1) – $6.50
Jockey – Regan Bayliss 59kg
Trainer – Joseph Pride
Epsom winner who resumed in the G1 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick a fortnight ago. The race wasn’t run to suit him on that occasion, and his late sectionals were strong. His second up record is good, and the step up to 1500m is a positive. The negative however, is the fact he’s drawn the inside in what looks to be a race void of speed. If he’s able to get off the fence early and be within striking distance on the turn, there is no doubt he is good enough to run them down.
Huge Saturday coming right up on the screens of @Channel7.@rosehillgardens:
Golden Slipper
George Ryder Stakes
The Galaxy
Ranvet Stakes
Rosehill Guineas@FlemingtonVRC: @allstarmile @katelynmallyon @JaseRicho @LizzieJelfs @emma_freedman @KateWaterhouse7 @defier1 pic.twitter.com/A2WY6jOqdp— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 16, 2022
4. Dalasan (12) – $34
Jockey – Chad Schofield 59kg
Trainer – Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas
Only a 5YO, but it seems he’s been around forever. Resumed in the G1 Canterbury Stakes behind Forbidden Love, where he was only fair. Like many of these, the step up in trip helps, and he was placed in last year’s Epsom Handicap. Needs to return to that form to be competitive.
5. Riodini (9) – $31
Jockey – Rachel King 59kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Two runs back this prep in the Apollo and Newcastle Newmarket have only been fair. Ran 2nd in the G1 George Main Stakes last Spring, before starting favourite in the Epsom. Looks the likely leader in a race lacking early tempo. No doubt he needs to improve, but he could run a sneaky race if he’s not pressured in front.
6. Bankers Choice (8) – $23
Jockey – Jay Ford 59kg
Trainer – Michael Moroney
Interesting runner from the in-form Mike Moroney yard. Got to the line hard in the G2 Blamey Stakes last start, in a race suited to leaders. I put him straight in the trusty blackbook after that race, and here we are. His NZ form is strong. He beat Coventina Bay two starts ago, who has since won two G1’s. If he can settle close enough here, he can run a big race at big odds.
7. Law Of Indices (11) – $13
Jockey – Mark Zahra 59kg
Trainer – Annabel Neasham
Former International galloper, who has shown glimpses of brilliance in Australia. His first up run in the G3 Southern Cross Stakes was good, where he hammered the line in good late splits. Nothing went right for him second up in the Canterbury Stakes, where he was slow out and got back in a race controlled up front. May pay to forgive the latest effort, as he is more than capable of winning if things go right.
8. Colette (3) – $6.00
Jockey – James McDonald 57kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Was brilliant first-up in the G2 Apollo finishing 2nd to Think It Over, before a disappointing run in the G1 Chipping Norton. She looked to have the right conditions on that occasion, and although only beaten 2.7L, her effort was below par. The rider stated she may have raced flat after a tough first up run, and a laceration was found on her hind leg post race. Personally, I feel she may have been ridden too close, which may have ultimately backfired. She maps to get a great run here, and she is a Golden Eagle winner this track/distance. McDonald takes over, and she can easily return to the winners stall in this race.
🏆G1 $5m Longines Golden Slipper
🏆G1 $1m The Agency George Ryder
🏆G1 $700K Ranvet Stakes
🏆G1 $700K Furphy Galaxy
🏆G1 $600K Sky Racing Active Rosehill GuineasA huge day of world class racing awaits us at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday!
FIELDS: https://t.co/RdDaW16ztu pic.twitter.com/vo1YTZk0QN
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) March 16, 2022
9. Forbidden Love (2) – $3.50F
Jockey – Hugh Bowman 57kg
Trainer – Richard & Michael Freedman
In form mare, who is a deserved favourite here. Ran super first-up in the G2 Expressway, where she finished a close 2nd to Overpass, and beat home star colt Anamoe. She then blitzed them in the G2 Guy Walter Stakes, and produced a similar effort a fortnight ago in the G1 Canterbury, defeating subsequent G1 winner Lighthouse. Couple of question marks are her form at Rosehill, and the step up to 1500m, as she is yet to win past 1400m, but the race maps well for her here, and with that sort of form beside her name, it’s hard to knock her.
10. Hungry Heart (7) – $20
Jockey – Kerrin McEvoy 57kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Was good late in the G2 Apollo Stakes first-up at Randwick. Gets back to Rosehill, where she is a G1 winner, and has drawn a nice gate. Not sure this is her grand final, but there’s no reason she can’t hit the line well here again and claim some minor prize money.
11. Converge (10) – SCRATCHED
Jockey – Tim Clark 56kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
N/A.
12. Hilal (6) – $12
Jockey – William Pike 56kg
Trainer – Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Lone 3YO of the field, after Converge was scratched to run in the G1 Rosehill Guineas. He ran Anamoe to a neck two starts ago in the G2 Hobartville Stakes here at Rosehill, before another solid effort last start in the G1 Randwick Guineas. He comes up with a nice gate here and looks a good chance of finishing top 3 in another feature race.
Final Word
Whilst there is no Winx in this year’s George Ryder Stakes, we have a strong and even field of G1 gallopers ready to do battle. To my eye, there doesn’t seem a lot of early speed in the race, which may make it hard for those who get back to make ground.
Race favourite Forbidden Love has come back in fine order, and will be looking to continue her winning streak here. She’s drawn well and should get every opportunity to do so if she’s good enough on the day.
Saturday’s George Ryder Stakes is wide open! Who do you have on top? pic.twitter.com/otpOBQz1DZ
— TAB (@tabcomau) March 16, 2022
Annabel Neasham presents two runners, who both look to have good winning chances. Mo’unga was fantastic first up in the G1 Futurity and can easily go one better in this, whilst Law Of Indices will be looking to turn his form around in what’s been an up and down prep thus far, as will Godolphin mare Colette.
Epsom winner Private Eye was good first up in an unsuitable race, and will be hoping for a bit of early tempo. Not sure he will get that, but if he’s close enough come the turn, he’s certainly good enough.
Riodini looks the likely leader, and may be worthwhile including at odds, as will kiwi gelding Bankers Choice, who was super in his first Australian run, and 3YO colt Hilal can easily measure up at WFA here after a good run in the Randwick Guineas.
I’m going to give Colette another chance here, after her disappointing run in the Chipping Norton. Excuses were offered on that occasion, and she looks to map perfect here. She gets the services of James McDonald, and if Forbidden Love is weak the last little bit of the race, this girl will be the one breathing down her throat.
Best George Ryder Stakes Tip: 8. Colette – Each Way ($6.00/$2.15)
George Ryder Stakes numbers: 8-2-9-6
If you need more news, information and tips, head over to our George Ryder Stakes page for all your punting needs!
*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
