The George Ryder Stakes is a Group 1 race held each year at Rosehill Racecourse under weight for age conditions.  This 1500 metre event has a long history in Australian racing, with the first edition run in 1903 as the Railway Stakes.  The George Ryder Stakes has been through a few names changes over the years, taking its current name in 1974.

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The George Ryder Stakes was run as the Railway Stakes between 1903 and 1914, changing to the Railway Handicap in 1915, the Railway Quality Handicap in 1946, the CP Air Quality Handicap in 1968, and the Railway Quality Handicap again in 1971.  It was not until 1974 that this event took its current name, in honour of racing administrator, stud master, and businessman George E. Ryder.

Originally run over 6 1/2 furlongs, this event became a 7 furlong event in 1915 and a 1400 metre event with the advent of the metric system in 1973.  The distance was lengthened to 1450 metres in 1985 before settling on its current length of 1500 metres in 1986.  A Principal Race between 1903 and 1979, the George Ryder Stakes was elevated directly to Group 1 status in 1980.

A number of notable horses have won this event over the years, including Pierro in 2013, Weekend Hussler in 2008, Racing To Win in 2006, Lonhro in 2003-4, and the brilliant Schillaci in 1993.  In earlier years, some of the outstanding horses who managed to win this event twice include Prince Regoli in 1962-63, Manikato in 1979-80, and Emanciaption in 1983-84.

The George Ryder Stakes is run on the same day as the Rosehill Guineas and The Galaxy, in one of the biggest autumn race days on the Rosehill calendar – Rosehill Guineas Day.  The winner of this event is exempt from ballot for the prestigious Group 1 Doncaster Handicap.  In recent times, this race has proven a solid guide to the Doncaster Handicap, with some of the horses who have won both events including Vision And Power in 2009, Haradasun in 2007, and Racing To Win in 2006.

In the news:

A gear change, wet weather and a distance rise.

It’s a combination trainer Colin Scott hopes can inspire Speediness to a breakthrough Group One win in the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday .

Disregarding Speediness’s last-start Canterbury Stakes failure, Scott expects the six-year-old to stamp himself as a genuine Doncaster Mile contender with his performance in Saturday’s 1500m race.

Speediness has been thereabouts at Group One level, including a luckless fourth in the Toorak Handicap and a close third to George Ryder rival Boban in the Emirates Stakes.

A second-up placing behind star mare Appearance in the Apollo Stakes signalled he was on-track for a fruitful autumn.

Then came a seventh in the Canterbury Stakes when nothing went right.

“We’ve decided to just put last start behind us,” Scott said.

“He over-raced badly and Damien (Oliver) said he made a bit of a noise so we’re of the theory he maybe choked down.”

That prompted Scott to apply a tongue tie for the Ryder.

“He’s had a couple of really solid hitouts this week in the tongue tie and he hasn’t missed a beat,” Scott said.

“He’s come right on fitness-wise.”

Rosehill is rated heavy but the track conditions don’t concern Scott who believes the horse is at his best on rain-affected ground.

“I’m very confident whatever the going is he’ll get through it,” he said.

Speediness has 54kg in next month’s $3 million Doncaster Mile, 5kg less than he will carry under the weight-for-age conditions of the Ryder.