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Godolphin trainer John O’Shea has rated the $1 million George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday one of the best weight-for-age races Australia has seen for several years.

The field of nine is headed by the superstar mare Winx but O’Shea says there is much more to the race than just her bid to win her 16th successive race.

"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 Melbourne horses who are multiple Group One winners and our own horse Hauraki who's in great form,” O’Shea said.

“The number of Group Ones between all the participants is quite significant.”

Epsom Handicap winner Hauraki resumed two weeks ago when third to Le Romain and Chautauqua in the G1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick and should be very comfortable second-up over 1500m on a seriously affected wet track.

Hauraki also holds the best form of any horse against Winx in the last 18 months, having placed four times behind the mare including a 1.25 lengths second in the G1 George Main Stakes last September.

John O'Shea and jockey William Buick are expecting a similar effort from Hauraki in the Ryder as he progresses towards the $3 million Doncaster Mile at Randwick on April 1.

"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 to the Doncaster because he's so adept at Randwick at a mile," O'Shea said.

"Hauraki's a very classy horse, he's thriving and a lot can happen on the day."

Here’s how O’Shea rates his other chances at Rosehill on Slipper day:-

ALLERGIC (William Buick): “He’s taken a while to get fit as he always does, but he was very good last week. He put on a bit of weight after the run so I thought I’d take the opportunity to back him up on the wet ground that he likes. He’s bouncing around the box, he’s got a good record at a mile-and-a-half and at Rosehill.”

RAIMENT (Craig Williams): “I just wanted to see the barrier and the strength of the race (before making a decision). She’s got very strong form at mares’ and fillies’ grade, she loves the ground and she’s trialled very well coming into it. She’s going to be in the finish.”

HARTNELL (William Buick): “Hartnell’s trying to bounce back from his first disappointing run for some time. There were genuine excuses for him last start, but again, he’s going to find a track on Saturday that is wet. We just need to get him back in the game and get a good positive run leading into the Queen Elizabeth and hopefully he does that on Saturday. We’re very happy with him, he’s in great order and I’m sure he’ll bounce back.”

VERANILLO (Brenton Avdulla): He’s going to get the blinkers on and I expect that to pick him up a bit, he doesn’t need to find a lot to be in the finish. I’m really happy with the improvement he’s made coming into the Slipper. He’s effective in the ground. You need a very fit, tough, seasoned horse, which he is, so we’re optimistic he can give a good account of himself.”

TREKKING (William Buick): “Trekking has drawn badly irrespective of how the track’s playing. We’ll just ride him conservatively from the gate and hope he can drop down onto the rail and weave his way through to be in the finish somewhere. He’s in great order and he’s a quality colt but he is going to need plenty of luck from that gate.”

ALEGRIA (Corey Brown): “Alegria has been in good from all preparation and her performance last week was really strong, so the step up to 1900m really suits her and the ground also suits her.”

AMBIENCE (William Buick): “She was very unlucky last start where she got poleaxed at the top of the rise and was put completely out of the race when she was about to run into it. Her work on Tuesday was first class, she loves the ground, so I expect a good performance from her.”