Chris Waller’s hopes for an eighth Gr.1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) success hinge on the state of the Rosehill track.
The premier trainer’s two runners, Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park) and Hungry Heart (Frankel), are both more effective on top of the ground and Waller is hoping the surface can improve from its heavy 8 rating on Thursday.
“Her and Kolding, the better the track the better they will run,” Waller said.
“I’m hoping it’s the better side of soft for both of them because they both showed signs of improvement last start.”
Kolding was comfortably beaten in the Apollo first-up but Waller was buoyed by his subsequent fourth to Forbidden Love on a very heavy track in the Canterbury Stakes.
“(Kolding’s) run last start was very good on an unsuitable track so he can certainly be a top three chance, provided the track continues to improve,” Waller said.
The George Ryder Stakes has been a happy hunting ground for Waller, who first won it with Danleigh (Mujahid) in 2010 before Winx (Street Cry) boosted his tally to seven with four successive victories between 2016 and 2019.
Forbidden Love (All Too Hard) is a $3.80 TAB fixed odds favourite for Saturday’s renewal, ahead of Mo’Unga (NZ) (Savabeel) ($4) who will be striving to capture another Golden Slipper day feature 12 months after becoming trainer Annabel Neasham’s first Group One winner with his Rosehill Guineas triumph.