On Saturday, six-year-old Danleigh ran the perfect Doncaster Mile preparation when he claimed victory in the $400,000 Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill as part of the Easter celebrations of Golden Slipper Day.
Going out as the $4.60 favourite, the Chris Waller-trained Danleigh defeated home Dao Dao ($7.50) by 1 ¾ lengths with reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year King Mufhasa ($13.00) just under a length back for third.
King Mufhasa also ran third in last year’s George Ryder behind Vision And Power, both unlucky placings blamed on the wet conditions.
It was an impressive victory, Danleigh’s third Group 1 win, as he beat a sensational field of gallopers including Heart Of Dreams ($7.50) who finished sixth and Black Piranha ($6) a well beaten ninth.
After settling worse than mid-field, Danleigh, ridden expertly by Hugh Bowman, made a late burst overtaking early leaders King Mufhasa and Dao Dao to secure the win in the final few metres.
A son of Mujahid, Danleigh has now saluted in eight of his 31 career starts for over $1.3 million in prizemoney. His other two Group 1 successes came in the All Aged Stakes and the Manikato Stakes.
With the strong win, Danleigh, once considered only a sprinter, has raced into contention for the $1.5million Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) to be held at Randwick on April 17.
Danleigh is now the second favourite at $6.50 for the Doncaster Mile with IASbet, shortened from his pre-George Ryder win price of $14, behind Australia’s top rated mare Typhoon Tracy currently at $3.60.
In related news, nine-year-old Pins gelding El Segundo has been retired after the four-time Group 1 winner suffered a tendon injury running fifth behind Danleigh in the George Ryder on Saturday.
Rosehill was host to an incredible five Group 1 races on Saturday and the winners of the other feature events were the Bart Cummings-trained Faint Perfume in the $400,000 Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (also known as the Storm Queen Stakes), brilliant mare Typhoon Tracy in the $400,000 Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes, Littorio in the second richest race at the meeting the $2.25million Group 1 The BMW, and late entry Crystal Lily in the highlight event the $3.5million Group 1 Golden Slipper.
2010 Hong Kong – Asia’s World City George Ryder Stakes Results:
Place |
Horse |
Trainer |
Jockey |
| 1 |
DANLEIGH |
Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman |
| 2 |
DAO DAO |
M, W & J Hawkes | Darren Beadman |
| 3 |
KING MUFHASA (NZ) |
Stephen McKee | Samantha Spratt |
| 4 |
PALACIO DE CRISTAL |
Grahame Begg | Peter Wells |
| 5 |
EL SEGUNDO (NZ) |
Colin Little | Craig Williams |
| 6 |
HEART OF DREAMS |
Mick Price | Damien Oliver |
| 7 |
TICKETS |
Peter G Moody | Luke Nolen |
| 8 |
TRIPLE HONOUR (NZ) |
Chris Waller | Tim Clark |
| 9 |
BLACK PIRANHA |
Con Karakatsanis | Jim Cassidy |
| 10 |
MR BARITONE (NZ) |
Michael Moroney | Jay Ford |
| 11 |
VISION AND POWER (NZ) |
Joseph Pride | Michael Rodd |
| 12 |
WALKING OR DANCING (NZ) |
Brett Partelle | Glen Boss |
| 13 |
SNIPER’S BULLET |
Tracey Bartley | Nash Rawiller |
| Scratched | |||
| DRUMBEATS |
