Winnasedge's Caulfield Success in Sir John Monash Stakes
Trainer Nick Ryan commented that favourable circumstances again presented themselves at Caulfield, leading to Winnasedge's most significant career win.
After a victory over 1100m at Caulfield on June 27, Winnasedge returned to the track on Saturday to claim the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m).
Sent off as the heavily backed $4.40 favourite under jockey Luke Currie, Winnasedge secured the win by a long neck from Bellatrix Star ($11), with Sir Now ($13) finishing a short-head behind in third.
"Last start he drew in and the pattern was in his favour and today he drew wide and the pattern is in his favour again," Ryan said.
"The stars aligned a little bit but he's a good horse and got the job done, but he's always been a good little horse.
"He was placed in a Red Anchor Stakes at three, he ran well in a Tobin Bronze Stakes over in Adelaide.
"He's always been up to this level, so to do it at weight-for-age, was great and it's great to team up with my great mate Luke Currie, back from America after his holiday and he executed it perfectly the way the track has been playing."
Currie had previously ridden Winnasedge in its placing in the Red Anchor Stakes in October 2024, and in its Tobin Bronze Stakes effort at Morphettville in April last year.
This was the first time Currie had partnered Winnasedge since that Adelaide performance, with Ryan noting that it was a matter of 'timing' after Ben Allen's recent success on the sprinter.
"Ben Allen is on a plane to Europe and Luke's back from America," Ryan explained.
"Luke and I go way back, we're good mates and it's good to team up with him in Stakes company today."
Ryan anticipates Winnasedge will likely target another Stakes race at Caulfield, the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) scheduled for July 25.
"He'll have a fitness edge," Ryan stated.
"He was fourth up today. He's fit, 1200 (metres) will be no issues, so why not."
Explore the top betting markets for the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield.
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