Ryder (1905-1989) was Australia's foremost racing innovator and, like the Golden Slipper carnival, the sprint has gained status over the decades.

Now at weight-for-age over 1500 metres, the George Ryder fulfils the criteria of being a top group 1 event and goes back to 1903 with an even longer history than the Rosehill Guineas (1910), also on Saturday's program.

This year's edition emphasises the dominance of Waller, from New Zealand, in his specialist categories. On Saturday, the trainer has the two favourites, Boban and Red Tracer, backed up by the accomplished wet-tracker, Sacred Falls, as well as My Kingdom Of Fife, highly talented but on risky legs.

Waller has won three out of the past four Ryders. The most successful trainers in thoroughbred racing in Australia - Bart Cummings, Neville Begg and John Hawkes - are also on three, but reached the figure over a longer period.

Champion trainer Tommy Smith won with Bragger in 1946 but found it hard to impact on the Rosehill sprint, unlike just about every other big one on the calendar.

The rise and rise of the Ryder, so called since 1974, is an example of the enthusiasm and vision of the Sydney Turf Club, generated by the Ryder spirit.

Ryder was surprised when appointed to the new STC by government proclamation in 1943 because he was a good man for the Hunter River region.

The club was formed "for the promotion and encouragement of racing generally" and, hopefully, the amalgamated STC and Australian Jockey Club, tagged the Australian Turf Club, can carry on the good work.

Ryder was an STC director for 37 years and chairman from 1977 to 1980.

"Sydney racing, in fact racing throughout Australia, didn't cater for fillies and mares," he said. Thus the Rosemount Classic, now the Coolmore, came into being in 1984.

"The next thing was the [entry of] racehorse owners to members' facilities. The first time I came down from Cessnock to watch my horse race, I only saw the jockeys' caps.

"Thirdly, I wanted to promote the autumn carnivals in Sydney. Leave the spring to Melbourne and the Melbourne Cup, but develop a racing festival at Rosehill to lead into the Randwick Easter. It took many, many years …

"Finally the STC needed a race of its own. That's when I came up with the idea of the Golden Slipper with the richest prizemoney for two-year-olds in Australia."

In 1958, Ryder produced the syndication of stallions to Australian breeding, and in 1970 formed ARABS - the Australian Racing and Breeding Stables, a non-profit creation developed by him "for those ordinary people who want to race for enjoyment but otherwise can't afford it".

He sold his bus fleet in 1946 to buy Woodlands Stud with partners, and for three successive years in the 1960s it was reputed to produce the greatest number of individual winners in the world.

Waller is renowned for his success with imports but, again, Ryder showed the way. In 1949 he bought three fillies in Great Britain - Victory Flight, Jan and Tarien, a top-class sprinting mare which had 12 wins and 19 placings from 40 starts here.

Jan, an outstanding staying mare, and Victory Flight became noted matriarchs of the stud book.

Waller's My Kingdom Of Fife hails from Britain, while Boban and Red Tracer are locals. Sacred Falls is a New Zealander.

Despite early markets having Boban and Red Tracer disputing favouritism at less than $4, Waller was hardly enthusiastic about Red Tracer. ''I don't want to run her,'' he said. He had intended to bypass the Ryder and does not fancy changing plans. "The $1 million [prizemoney] is a huge carrot but it's not what's enticing me, unless I think she is a genuine chance.''

Obviously she conforms, but the late decision means Nash Rawiller, who has ridden Red Tracer to many of her victories, had been booked for My Kingdom Of Fife, thus Michael Rodd handles the mare.

Mares do not have a good record in the Ryder. The last to score was Heat Of The Moment (1986) but in the wet Red Tracer is the real deal: three wins and a second from four runs on a slow track, while six on the heavy have resulted in five successes.

Red Tracer (115) and Boban (117) have similar ratings with Racing NSW, but the mare has superior wet credentials. Waller could well have a history-making trifecta in a particularly strong race.

Sacred Falls, described by Waller as now being a "happy horse" due to maturity, has had two foundation runs, indicating he will be prime. Lacking the same disposition last year, the then three-year-old won the Doncaster, beating Pierro, on a heavy track.