News

Ten Group One winners eye George Ryder

30th Mar 2009

Racing and Sports - Monday, 30 March 2009

Doncaster favourites All Silent and Whobegotyou (pictured) have their first showdown in the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill but the feature is far from a two-horse race.

Doncaster favourites All Silent and Whobegotyou have their first showdown in the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill but the weight-for-age feature is far from a two-horse race.

There were 17 entries on Monday including eight other Group One winners - Alamosa, Light Fantastic, Littorio, Mentality, Northern Meteor, Pompeii Ruler, Sarrera, Triple Honour and New Zealander King Mufhasa.

The Stephen McKee-trained Culminate almost sprung an upset in the recent Coolmore Classic and her stablemate King Mufhasa will be out to go one better.

The winner of two Group One races in New Zealand at his past two starts under his given name of Mufhasa, the four-year-old is an on-pace runner who McKee is confident can measure up.

"He is a pretty fast horse who will be up there from the outset," McKee said.

"He doesn't have to lead but he can shadow the leader and still have a strong finish."

"He hasn't raced for a few weeks but he has had a solid barrier trial and an exhibition gallop at the races so he is fit.

"I think he will still improve on whatever he does in the Ryder but I expect him to go well."

McKee and King Mufhasa will travel to Sydney on Tuesday with jockey Samantha Spratt to arrive later in the week.

Spratt is New Zealand's leading rider and although she has no experience in Sydney, McKee says that is not a minus.

"She knows the horse really well, she knows how to ride him so it's no concern at all," he said.

Culminate will also have a tilt at a second Australian Group One in the weight-for-age Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1500m).

Coolmore winner Typhoon Tracy won't be there but Hot Danish is a definite starter.

Les Bridge and the owners of Hot Danish opted to bypass the Coolmore believing it would be too taxing under her topweight leading into the Doncaster.

Her withdrawal from the Coolmore left Culminate as topweight with 56kg and she was beaten half a length by Typhoon Tracy who carried five kilos less.

"She hasn't got Typhoon Tracy to contend with this time and Hot Danish and Forensics are obviously going to be hard to beat," McKee said.

"But I'm very happy with how she came through the Coolmore and that's why we decided to leave her in Sydney."

The other option for Culminate was the Breeders Classic at Te Aroha on Saturday in which Australia will be represented by Canberra mare Bacchanal Woman.

There were also 17 entries for the Queen Of The Turf with Forensics aiming for back to back victories in the race.

At her first start for the autumn, the Peter Snowden-trained mare ran All Silent to a neck in the Group Two Canterbury Stakes (1300m).

All Silent and Whobegotyou are among a host of carnival stars who will work on the course proper at Randwick on Tuesday morning.