RACING FORUM

Posted: **Thu Mar 16, 2017 0:04 am**

Hauraki is one of eight horses who has the unenviable task of trying to stop champion mare Winx from winning her 16th successive race and her 11th Gr1 title in Saturday's George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill, reports Godolphin.com. It may appear a forlorn hope, but Hauraki is better credentialed than most to accomplish the feat, having placed on four occasions behind Winx including running her to a 1.25 length second in the G1 George Main Stakes last September. Trainer John O'Shea and jockey William Buick are hoping that Hauraki can do something similar in the Ryder. "The Ryder is as good a weight-for-age race as we've seen in Australia for some time," O'Shea said. "You've got the best horse in the world, the former best sprinter in the world (Chautauqua), the quality of the Melbourne horses who are multiple Group One winners and our own horse Hauraki who's in great form." Hauraki (Reset-Youthful Presence, by Dehere) resumed two weeks ago when third to Le Romain and Chautauqua in the Gr1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) and is on track for his main autumn target - the $3 million Gr1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick next month. "I think the Doncaster winner will probably run in Saturday's race, and if Hauraki can run top three it gives him a wonderful opportunity to go on because he's so adept at Randwick at a mile," O'Shea said. "Hauraki's in at the deep end, but he's a very classy horse, he's thriving and a lot can happen on the day."