Morphettville horseman Lloyd Kennewell said he has “bright expectations” that his class mare Viddora can enjoy a well-deserved Group 1 win travelling to Perth for Saturday’s Winterbottom Stakes 2017.
Viddora is a huge hope of winning her maiden Group 1 title in Perth’s 2017 Winterbottom Stakes on the weekend. Photo: Jenny Barnes.
The five-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible is one of the eastern state visitors over in W.A. this summer chasing an elite level sprint win at Ascot Racecourse in the Group 1 $1 million Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).
Drawn in barrier seven with her regular ride Joe Bowditch also making the trip across the Nullarbor for the Winterbottom Stakes, Viddora lines-up in her fourth Group 1 race.
She occupies the second line of Winterbottom Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au currently paying $4.20 and sitting behind only the in-form local State Solicitor ($2.90).
She has been ultra-competitive in Melbourne this campaign and Kennewell believes she is more than deserving of a chance on the weekend.
“I think she is the best of the interstaters coming across and I have bright expectations,” he told Racing and Wagering Western Australia this week.
“This is one of the races I have targeted and to my way of thinking she has ticked all the right boxes.
“She has proved herself against Australia’s best sprinters and has been unlucky not to have broken through.
“She has settled in really well and I really think she deserves to have a Group 1 next to her name.”
Viddora’s first foray into Group 1 racing was at her home track in Adelaide on May 6 when under two lengths away second to Secret Agenda in the Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m).
This time in she has had two more elite level tests both at The Valley in Melbourne when second to She Will Reign in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (100m) and two lengths away fourth to Hey Doc in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m).
There are some queries about Viddora over the 1200m as she has had six goes at the distance for only two second placings, her best performances being over 1000m – 1100m.
Kennewell though believes his mare will run out the distance no issues on Saturday.
“Early on in her career she had little issues which might have affected her, but she is coming off the Manikato where she was unlucky,” he said.
“Joe Bowditch hopped on the back of Vega Magic who stopped in front of her when she should have been out and moving.
“If not for bad luck in a pretty hot edition of the Manikato she would probably have run second or third.
“There is no issue with her running out a strong 1200m.”
While bullish over his mare’s chances of joining the Winterbottom Stakes winners list, Kennewell remains wary of how the local Perth racing form will stack-up.
“I don’t really have a handle on all the local horses,” he said.
“But you have to respect them because anything can happen.
“You just need luck to go your way in a big race.”
To back Viddora to win the Winterbottom Stakes 2017 at the right price head to Ladbrokes.com.au today.
