Trainer Nick Ryan says the stars aligned again at Caulfield as Winnasedge registered his most important career victory.
After scoring over 1100m at Caulfield on June 27, Winnasedge was back at Caulfield on Saturday collecting the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m).
Sent out the well-supported $4.40 favourite under Luke Currie, Winnasedge scored by a long neck from Bellatrix Star ($11) with Sir Now ($13) a short-head away third.
Winnasedge drew an inside gate when successful on June 27 and was favoured by an outside draw in his win on Saturday.
“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 partnered Winnasedge in his placing in the Red Anchor Stakes in October 2024 and in his Tobin Bronze Stakes performance at Morphettville in April last year.
Saturday was the first time Currie had been aboard Winnasedge since that performance in Adelaide and Ryan said it was ‘timing wise’ after Ben Allen scored on the sprinter last time.
“Ben Allen is on a plane to Europe and Luke’s back from America,” Ryan said.
“Luke and I go way back, we’re good mates and it’s good to team up with him in Stakes company today.”
Ryan said Winnasedge was likely to return to Caulfield for another Stakes race assignment, the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) on July 25.
“He’ll have a fitness edge,” Ryan said.
“He was fourth up today. He’s fit, 1200 (metres) will be no issues, so why not.”
