A line-up of 13 summer sprinters has been announced for this Saturday’s Winterbottom Stakes 2017 field in W.A. at Ascot Racecourse.
The Perth Summer Racing Carnival action continues with the Group 1 $1 million Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes (1200m), a final field of 13 confirmed by Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) on Monday.
Leading the updated Winterbottom Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au on the million dollar sprint is the local Grant & Alana Williams-trained State Solicitor ($3).
The Perth horses held off the eastern state charge in the Railway Stakes results last Saturday thanks to a brave all-the-way effort from Great Shot and the bookies are tipping that to continue in the Winterbottom.
Nicconi five-year-old State Solicitor has a smart four-from-six record at the Ascot track and is a six-time winner from nine runs over the 1200m.
He has won his three latest starts going back to late May, most recently finishing first on November 18 in the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) that last produced a Winterbottom Stakes winner in 2012 when Barakey did the double.
William Pike retains the ride on the Winterbottom Stakes favourite on Saturday chasing a third win in the feature after previous victories aboard Ellicorsam (2004) and Hadabeclorka (2010).
Following closely in the post-field Winterbottom Stakes betting markets this summer are the classy Lloyd Kennewell-trained mare from Adelaide Viddora ($4) and Chris Gangemi’s local veteran Rock Magic ($6).
Viddora has her regular rider Joe Bowditch travelling west for the Group 1 ride this weekend on the back of successive Moonee Valley runs in the spring.
The five-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible was beaten the barest of margins first-up by She Will Reign in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) before crossing two lengths back fourth to Hey Doc in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m).
She’s yet to win over further than 1100m, but the bookies are taking no chances for her Perth debut on the weekend.
Rock Magic meanwhile is out to join Buffering (2015) as the only eight-year-old Winterbottom Stakes winners in over 30 years.
The son of Redoute’s Choice hasn’t won since defeating Scales Of Justice in the Group 3 Belmont Sprint (1400m) back in early June and has been a blowout odds in Melbourne this campaign.
He ran seventh in the Manikato Stakes at The Valley before being outclassed when a midfield sixth to Redzel in Flemington’s Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) during the Melbourne Cup Carnival
A return home should give Rock Magic the chance to return to his best against an easier field of rivals in the Winterbottom Stakes, which he placed third in under a length beaten last season.
Along with Viddora, the other best fancied interstate raider in the mix this year is the Anthony Freedman-trained Santa Ana Lane ($7.50).
The Lope De Vega entire hasn’t raced since a win at Caulfield on October 1 as a 52kg lightweight in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).
After a freshen-up the 1200m on Saturday shouldn’t be too sharp for Santa Ana Lane who still needs to rise to 58.5kg under the weight-for-age conditions of the Winterbottom.
Other key chances include Lindsay Park’s four-year-old Star Witness mare Fuhryk looking to return to her best sprint form and War Chant mare Dainty Tess coming off a close fifth under a length beaten in the Colonel Reeves.
See below for the full Winterbottom Stakes 2017 field and jockeys, the official barriers out on Tuesday night (AEDT) with markets also now open at Ladbrokes.com.au.
2017 Winterbottom Stakes Final Field
Ascot Racecourse – 02/12/2017
No. | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp. Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | x4011x4376 | ROCK MAGIC | Chris Gangemi | Jarrad Noske | TBD | 58.5kg | 108 |
2 | 49155x341x | SANTA ANA LANE | Anthony Freedman | Dean Yendall | TBD | 58.5kg | 106 |
3 | 226x438x53 | DURENDAL | Chris Gangemi | Shaun McGruddy | TBD | 58.5kg | 98 |
4 | 3x4223x0x3 | DREAM LIFTER | Paul Hunter | Mitchell Pateman | TBD | 58.5kg | 97 |
5 | 2125×64370 | MALIBU STYLE | Neville Parnham | Steven Parnham | TBD | 58.5kg | 96 |
6 | 58042x33x1 | THE RIVER | Trevor Andrews | TBA | TBD | 58.5kg | 78 |
7 | 5233112×24 | PROFIT STREET | Peter & Matthew Giadresco | Brad Parnham | TBD | 58.5kg | 97 |
8 | x116x61x11 | STATE SOLICITOR | Grant & Alana Williams | William Pike | TBD | 58.5kg | 98 |
9 | 7622212×24 | VIDDORA | Lloyd Kennewell | Joe Bowditch | TBD | 56.5kg | 104 |
10 | 7306×53736 | WHISPERING BROOK | Simon A Miller | Jason Brown | TBD | 56.5kg | 88 |
11 | 1x34212x15 | DAINTY TESS | Daniel Morton | Chris Parnham | TBD | 56.5kg | 96 |
12 | 0x21x78x19 | FUHRYK | David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig | Damien Oliver | TBD | 56.5kg | 96 |
13 | 2x116x4372 | CAIPIRINHA | Simon A Miller | Joseph Azzopardi | TBD | 56.5kg | 87 |