Super mare Winx will only have five rivals when she lines up for her twenty-fourth straight win in the Group 1 $1m The Agency 2018 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Winx, above, is set to face 5 rivals in the 2018 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Winx is also chasing her third consecutive win in the weight for age George Ryder Stakes and heads into his year’s version with one lead up run, a win in a hand canter in the Group 1 $600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on March 3.

Regular rider Hugh Bowman returns from injury to partner the three times Cox Plate winner after being cleared by doctors earlier in the week after suffering concussion from a nasty fall from his Golden Slipper Stakes mount Performer in the Group 2 $300,000 UNSW Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 10.

Winx has drawn the outside barrier in the six horse George Ryder Stakes field but that won’t be problem with Bowman always happy to give the mare plenty of galloping room.

Trainer Chris Waller has been happy with the progress of Winx since her seven lengths Chipping Norton Stakes win and has her spot on to claim her third George Ryder Stakes.

“She’s exactly where we need her to be,” Waller said.

“We saw how good she was first-up and we often see her go into a career rating at her second-up run so that’s when she’s at her best.”

Trainer James Cummings is set to pit his quality three year old Kementari up against the world’s best galloper but said the George Ryder Stakes fits in perfectly with the colt’s Doncaster Mile preparation.

“I feel like the George Ryder is the run the colt is definitely going to need in the lead-up to the Doncaster, which is the race we have our eyes firmly fixed on at the moment,” Cummings told AAP.

“And of course coming up against Winx is something that we have the greatest amount of respect for when it comes to the challenge of that event.”

Kementari has drawn next to Winx in barrier five and will be ridden by Brenton Advulla who replaces the suspended Glyn Schofield who has been aboard the Lonhro colt for his three undefeated starts this campaign, including a last start win in the Group 1 $1m Mostyn Copper Group Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick on March 10.

Last start Canterbury Stakes winner Happy Clapper has drawn barrier four in the 2018 George Ryder Stakes field with Blake Shinn in the saddle,  Bjorn Baker’s Crack Me Up (Jason Collett) will jump from barrier two while trainer Kris Lees will saddle up Clearly Innocent, barrier three with Tommy Berry, and Invincible Gem, barrier one with Zac Purton.

Head to Ladbrokes.com.au now for the latest George Ryder Stakes 2018 odds and betting markets on Winx and her five rivals.

Final field for 2018 George Ryder Stakes (1500m)