Reigning LONGINES World’s Best Jockey Hugh Bowman and the world’s highest rated turf horse Winx will take centre stage at what’s likely to be a rain soaked Rosehill racecourse, in Sydney, on Saturday.
The Chris Waller trained champion mare Winx chases her 24th consecutive victory and her 17th at Group 1 level in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and her appearance overshadows the world’s richest two-year-old race, the A$3.5 million Golden Slipper (G1 1200m) on Saturday’s six race simulcast program from Rosehill.
As much as 85 millimetres of rain is forecast to hit Sydney from Wednesday to Friday before clearing on raceday. However, a rain affected track would not be a concern for Winx who chases a third straight George Ryder Stakes win as she is unbeaten in six starts on soft and heavy rated tracks through her winning streak.
Jockey Bowman, back in action after being stood down following a fall at Randwick on 10 March, sounded an ominous warning for rivals after riding the mare in work on Tuesday morning. “She felt better than ever,” he said.
It was Bowman’s first morning riding work since the fall and came after he passed a concussion test on the Monday. “I took a fair knock to the head but I’m fine now. I spent last week resting. I wasn’t foggy, I just felt tired and a bit lethargic.”
“I’ve got a few rides at Newcastle on Thursday and I’m just easing my way back into it to make sure I’m fully prepared for Saturday,” Bowman said.
Bowman believes that Winx has improved since her first-up win, by seven lengths, in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) on 3 March. “She’s certainly come on from that run,” he said, “she’s ways focused but she’s really focused now and when she’s working along at 85 or 90 per cent on the track, she gives you a feel like no other horse. She’s in great order.”
Bowman’s Golden Slipper mount is none other than Performer, the horse who threw him when he shifted out abruptly in the straight in the G2 Todman Stakes (1200m) on 10 March. “I think I hit him in the wither with my knee and he didn’t appreciate it,” he said.
Performer, also trained by Waller, had won his two previous starts and has since won a barrier trial on heavy ground on 15 March. “The barriers and the weather and how the track’s playing on the day will all be important factors but I think Performer is among the top two or three chances.”
“Tony McEvoy’s filly Sunlight is probably the benchmark but I think it’s a more open race than many might think. She seems to tick all the boxes. I wouldn’t say she is unbeatable but she is the one to beat. My horse (Performer) will run well,” Bowman said.
Remarkably, given all their success, neither Bowman nor Waller has won a Golden Slipper. It’s a different story with the George Ryder Stakes as Waller has trained five of the past eight winners of the weight-for-age race while Bowman has won it four times.
