Le Romain ridden by Glyn Schofield (extreme outside) wins race 5 in a photo finish to Chautauqua ridden by Tommy Berry during Royal Randwick races in Sydney. Pic Jenny Evans

Le Romain, racing’s giant-killer who is never beaten in a photo-finish, could claim both scalps when he takes on Winx and Chautauqua in the Group 1 $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Champion Winx has been unbeatable for nearly two years and is hot favourite at $1.15 with TAB Fixed Odds to record her 16th consecutive win in the Ryder Stakes.

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But reputations mean nothing to Le Romain who goes into the Ryder after beating Chautauqua, the best sprinter in the world for the past two years, in a thrilling Canterbury Stakes two weeks.

Trainer Kris Lees said Le Romain ($11) would go to Rosehill at the peak of form and fitness as he attempts a fourth Group 1 win that would take the gelding’s career earnings over $2 million.

“Winx is a great mare but you can only worry about your own horse,’’ Lees said. “Le Romain has come on the right way since his last-start win, he is ready for the 1500m and he loves heavy tracks.’’

Le Romain, right, edged out Chautauqua in a thrilling finish in the Canterbury Stakes. Picture: Jenny EvansSource:News Corp Australia

Lees said Le Romain had a tremendous will to win as he showed when warding off Chautauqua in heavy going at Randwick last start. “Le Romain is a fighter, my word he is,’’ Lees said. “I don’t think he has ever been beaten in a photo.’’

In fact, of Le Romain’s six career wins, five have been in photo-finishes, including his three Group 1 wins. His smallest losing margin has been three-quarters of a length.

Lees also has Felines lining up in the Group 1 $700,000 The Galaxy (1100m) although the trainer is not as confident about the mare’s chances in the very heavy conditions.

“Felines is more effective on slow tracks but she is capable on the heavy,’’ Lees said.

Felines coped well with a very heavy track last start when fourth to English in the Challenge Stakes at Randwick.

Lees said Zestful would line up in the Group 3 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) after her solid third to Rocket Commander in the Wenona Girl Quality in heavy going last start. The champion Newcastle trainer is also pleased first emergency The Wasp has gained a start in the $150,000 Provincial Championship Qualifier, joining stablemates Raido and Twist Tops in the race.

“Twist Tops is probably our best chance because by the last race her outside barrier might be a good draw,’’ Lees said. “But all three should go well, it’s just a matter of whether they can handle the conditions.’’

Sixth no guide to Galaxy

FELL Swoop has overcome his Oakleigh Plate ordeal and is poised to finally secure a deserved Group 1 success in the $700,000 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Canberra trainer Matthew Dale warned punters not to use Fell Swoop’s first-up sixth in the Oakleigh Plate as a form reference as nothing went right for his sprinter.

“He knuckled over at the start then he galloped on himself; it was game over in two strides,’’ Dale said. “After the race we found he had a bruised heel so it ruled him out of the Newmarket Handicap as it put me a couple of days behind where I had anticipated being with him.

“I didn’t want to rush him and the extra week into The Galaxy has been perfect, he has recovered well.’’

Dale then cited another unplaced run: Fell Swoop’s only heavy track start when fourth at Randwick back in the winter of 2015 as reason to be confident about his chances on Saturday.

“At Fell Swoop’s only start on a heavy track at Randwick, he was bottled up like there was no tomorrow and he probably should have won,’’ he said. “His peak performances have been on soft going, including second in the T.J. Smith Stakes on a Soft 6 last year.

“He’s performed at Rosehill and he is the type of horse that fronts up and gives 110 per cent every time so I feel he can be in the mix.’’

Fell Swoop is at $7.50 in with TAB Fixed Odds betting to finally break through at the highest level after four Group 1 placings. Russian Revolution remains favourite at $5.

Dale will also start Hermosa Beach for the Group 3 $150,000 Birthday Card Stakes.

Originally published as Le Romain stalking another huge scalp