The George Ryder always draws an outstanding field and Rosehill Gardens will play host to another quality edition on Saturday afternoon.
There’s no Winx, so obviously there isn’t a genuine superstar engaged but also, there’s no Winx so it means that the George Ryder winner isn’t a foregone conclusion.
GEORGE RYDER STAKES – WINNER
No. 2 Te Akau Shark – Bet Now: $2.10
It is simply impossible to argue with the recent form of Te Akau Shark and he has to go on top of my 2020 George Ryder Stakes tips. The Rip Van Winkle gelding has recorded seven wins and four minors from his twelve career starts so far and was outstanding in spring, but he has clearly returned to the track and even scarier prospect this time and has won both the Group 1 BCD Sprint in New Zealand and the Group 1 Chipping Norton a fortnight ago. He’ll only be fitter third-up and anything even money or above looks a great price, for mine.
GEORGE RYDER STAKES – 2ND
No. 7 Super Seth – Bet Now: $5.00
So good is Te Akau Shark at the moment, that I almost completely missed Super Seth in the George Ryder Stakes field. Obviously the only horse to have beaten Alligator Blood prior to last week, Super Seth’s win in the Caulfield Guineas last year was a thing of legend and he has clearly returned to the track in similar form this year, having won the Neds Manfred stakes and finished second in the Futurity. He’s another horse that will be fitter third-up in the George Ryder and will surely fight out the finish.
GEORGE RYDER STAKES – 3RD
No. 1 Happy Clapper – Bet Now: $17.00
He isn’t quite the world beater that he once was, but Happy Clapper is still as tough as they come and I for one would not be surprised to see him pull off a shock win in the George Ryder. The multiple Group 1 winner resumed this time to fill the minors in the Group 2 Apollo before finishing two lengths from Te Akau Shark in the Chipping Norton last time out. The $17 about him to win is well and truly overs.
GEORGE RYDER STAKES – 4TH
No. 8 Brandenburg – Bet Now: $18.00
There’s several nice three-year-olds in the George Ryder field this year and I can’t find a reason why Brandenburg isn’t up to another big performance as well. The John Sargent-trained colt was a shock winner of the Group 2 Hobartville when resuming and proved that was no fluke when he finished a close-up third behind Shadow Hero in the Randwick Guineas a fortnight ago. He obviously fares well in the weights here and is drawn a peach in barrier 3.
Suggested Bets
- 5 Units straight out #2 Te Akau Shark
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below