The George Ryder Stakes (1500m) is one of the crown jewels on Golden Slipper Day as a wide-open field steps out at Rosehill on Saturday with $1 million on the line.

Earning Group 1 status in 1980, the race has been won by several notable champions including Emancipation (1983, 1984), Lonhro (2003, 2004), and four-peat winner Winx.

Champion trainer Chris Waller has a legitimate shot at adding a record eighth George Ryder to his mantlepiece with Kolding, Star Of The Seas and the favourite Funstar, but all will need to bring their best with defending champion Dreamforce and Avilius both lining up.

The inclusions of Think It Over and the in-form Mizzy, as well as the withdrawal of Arcadia Queen, has also added to the complexity of the race.

In what is arguably the toughest betting contest of the day, you can find our thoughts on every runner in our 2021 George Ryder Stakes Preview.

Kolding

Dual Group 1 winner Kolding returns to Rosehill on Saturday looking to improve on his latest effort in a very competitive Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick.
Despite missing out on the money, the son of Ocean Park still showed plenty of fight to finish off for fifth after leading most of the way – a run that suggests he should appreciate getting back to the 1500m where he’s won twice previously.
Chris Waller’s five-year-old is as consistent as they come and has also claimed a pair of wins on soft going in the past.
He showed during the Spring that he can take a few runs to warm up and is an absolute must-include in multiples despite the wide gate.

Avilius

Avilius is having his second run back from a spell following a game effort for third first-up in the Chipping Norton.
The Godolphin galloper stoked up on the outside to eyeball Verry Elleegant and Colette at the 50m mark before just weakening out to finish behind the pair.
Despite the fact he hasn’t won in 14 starts, there was no shame in going down to those two classy mares – a performance the seven-year-old can only improve on now as he steps back to the 1500m for the first time.
Last year’s winning rider Nash Rawiller will likely take a similar sit on Saturday and save his best for late, and with two wins on the board on a heavy track, there’s no reason Avilius can’t win.

Dreamforce

The defending champ strips fitter for his first-up run when three-lengths fifth to Savatiano in the Canterbury Stakes.
The old boy by Fastnet Rock settled on speed that day but struggled for luck in transit after copping a bump and being squeezed down the straight.
He’ll likely roll forward again on Saturday and look to run the race on his own terms.
A place wouldn’t surprise with James McDonald in the saddle for the first time, but he definitely won’t want it too wet.

Samadoubt

Samadoubt returned to the scene for the first time in over a year to run second last in the Canterbury Stakes.
Like Dreamforce, the son of Not A Single Doubt went straight to the front that day before a post-race examination revealed he pulled up lame.
He is worth forgiving on that effort with some fitness on his side but would need to improve drastically to win a race of this quality.

Star Of The Seas

Star Of The Seas has placed in four of his seven runs at Group 1 level and looks more than capable of adding to that mark.
The son of Ocean Park has progressed nicely through the Autumn, most recently making up a stack of ground for fifth last time out in the All-Star Mile.
Mark Zahra did a fantastic job offsetting the wide gate that day and it will now be up to Sam Clipperton to do the same.
With three wins to his name on heavy going and plenty of race fitness on his side, the six-year-old rates as a strong each-way play in his fourth run back from a spell.

Gem Song

Gem Song is a consistent type that very rarely runs a bad race.
He returned from a lengthy spell to run fourth first-up in the Southern Cross Stakes at Randwick before making up big ground from well-back to take out the Group 3 Newcastle Newmarket Handicap a fortnight ago.
While he struggled over this track and trip in the inaugural edition of The Golden Eagle, the son of Your Song did run on well for fourth on rain-affected going in the Epsom Handicap two years ago.
The five-year-old has found the money in four of his six starts at Rosehill and is one of the better each-way bets in the field.

Think It Over

Think It Over faces Group 1 company for the first time after resuming to win the Group 3 Liverpool Cup at Randwick two runs back.
The five-year-old by So You Think then went on to fight home bravely for second behind I Am Superman a fortnight ago over this same track and trip in the Ajax Stakes – a run he’s sure to improve on now with some fitness under his belt.
Two of his five wins have come under Glen Boss, and although he won’t want it too wet, his soft track form suggests he’s worth consideration in exotics.

Cascadian

Cascadian steps out with fitness on his side as he looks to improve on his first-up third to Gem Song in the Newcastle Newmarket Handicap.
While a Group 1 win has eluded him so far, the Godolphin runner has been in the money on three separate occasions at this level in the past.
Like a few others in the field, it’s been a long time in between drinks for the six-year-old, but it is worth noting his win in last year’s Doncaster Prelude came over this track and trip on rain-affected going.
With Rachel King booked to ride, a place wouldn’t surprise.

Dalasan

As the odds suggest, it’s tough to know what to make of Dalasan right now.
The four-year-old missed out on winning the Turnbull by less than half-a-length to Verry Ellegant during the Spring, but his first-up effort down the Flemington straight in the Newmarket left a lot to be desired.
The good news is he’s done some of his best racing second-up from a spell and this does appear to be a much more suitable contest.
He’s handled wet tracks well in the past, so expect some improvement.

Dawn Passage

Big watch on Dawn Passage after the way he handled a very wet track for third in last year’s Golden Eagle.
He found himself too far back first-up in the Canterbury Stakes over the mile, but he should be settling a little closer this time around if Tim Clark can offset the wide gate nice and early.
The Waterhouse and Bott-trained four-year-old rattled off back-to-back wins at Rosehill last winter by taking out the Hawkesbury Guineas and the Inglis 3YO Guineas on a wet track.
While his first-up performance was only plain, he might be a touch over the odds.

Junipal

Junipal returned some pleasing results during the Spring, albeit among much easier company.
The son of Reset won back-to-back starts at Moonee Valley and Caulfield over further before scoring a comfortable win over this same trip in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes.
This is a tough assignment first-up from a spell, but he does have some strong wet track form to suggest he can run a race.

Mizzy

Mizzy is a very consistent type that rarely runs a bad race at Rosehill.
She steps out on Saturday looking to break a run of recent placings at Group 1 level in both the Canterbury Stakes and Coolmore, two performances that make her a major player in another high-quality race.
She did it tough last time out from a wide draw and just ran out of steam to finish second behind fast-finishing Queenslander Krone.
The form out of that race reads extremely well, and if Regan Bayliss can shuffle across and land just off the speed, there’s no question the pair will be fighting out the finish.

Funstar

Funstar gets conditions to suit on Saturday with a very wet track expected at Rosehill.
Chris Waller’s lightly-raced mare has dominated on rain-affected going in the past, most notably winning the Group 1 Flight Stakes at Randwick in 2019 on a Soft 6.
She’s returned two pleasing efforts this time in work, running fourth in the Apollo Stakes before finishing just half-a-length off Verry Elleegant for fourth in the Chipping Norton after stalking the speed.
Barrier 1 should see Tommy Berry take a similar sit on Saturday, and with a win on the board third-up in the past, there’s no doubt Funstar is one of the major players.

George Ryder Stakes Tips

2 Avilius at $4.20