Defending titleholder Viddora continues to firm in the betting following the barrier draw for the 2018 Group 1 $1m Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday.
Viddora, above, drew barrier 5 in the 2018 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot in Perth. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Bookies at Ladbrokes.com.au rolled Viddora’s price into $2.80 from $3.20 after the Lloyd Kennewell trained mare drew perfectly at barrier five in the fifteen horse Winterbottom Stakes field.
Kennewell had said earlier in the week that he would be happy for Viddora to draw anywhere in the fifteen horse field except barrier one and barrier five saw Kennewell tweet out the ‘she’s apples’ symbol on twitter.
“I am not really worried about the draw to be honest. You can’t change it, you can’t make it,” Kennewell said earlier in the week before the barrier draw was held on Tuesday.
“She will lob in the field where she jumps, but probably don’t want to draw one. Because she gets back a bit, you really don’t want to draw one.”
“I’ll be happy if we drew somewhere in the middle and then Joe can take care of business after that.”
Second favourite Enticing Star ($7) was not as lucky at the barrier draw and the ‘Wiz Of The West’, William Pike, will have to produce his magic again after the mare draw awkwardly at thirteen.
Pike was at his magical best last Saturday, taking out the two feature races at Ascot with Arcadia Queen winning the Group 2 $500,000 Sky Racing W.A. Guineas (1600m) and Galaxy Star coming from well back in the field to win the Group 1 $1m Kirin Railway Stakes (1600m).
The Peter Gelagotis trained Malaguerra is on the third line of betting at $8 after drawing in the middle of the pack at gate seven.
$51 outsider Belter drew the rails while the Leon and Troy Corstens trained Runson ($12) will jump from the outside gate.
Betting for the 2018 Winterbottom Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.80 Viddora, $7 Enticing Star, $8 Malaguerra, $9 Voodoo Lad, $12 Runson, I’ll Have A Bit, $14 Malibu Style, $16 Dainty Tess, $18 Ashlor, $26 Durendal, $34 Profit Street, $51 Belter, Valour Road, Seannie, $81 Rebel King.
Final field and barrier draw for the 2018 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m)
| # | Horse | Br | Wgt | Rtg | Rider | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MALAGUERRA | 7 | 58.5 | m111 | BEN MELHAM | PETER GELAGOTIS |
| 2 | VOODOO LAD | 14 | 58.5 | m109 | DAMIEN OLIVER | DARREN WEIR |
| 3 | DURENDAL | 12 | 58.5 | m105 | SHAUN MC GRUDDY | CHRIS GANGEMI |
| 4 | REBEL KING | 4 | 58.5 | m100 | JARRAD NOSKE | DARREN MC AULIFFE |
| 5 | MALIBU STYLE | 6 | 58.5 | m101 | STEVEN PARNHAM | NEVILLE PARNHAM |
| 6 | PROFIT STREET | 2 | 58.5 | m96 | MITCHELL PATEMAN | PETER & MATT GIADRESCO |
| 7 | ASHLOR | 8 | 58.5 | m97 | DANIEL STACKHOUSE | DAN MCCARTHY |
| 8 | RUNSON | 15 | 58.5 | m97 | STEPHEN BASTER | LEON & TROY CORSTENS |
| 9 | BELTER | 1 | 58.5 | m92 | PATRICK CARBERY | SEAN CASEY |
| 10 | VIDDORA | 5 | 56.5 | m109 | JOE BOWDITCH | LLOYD KENNEWELL |
| 11 | DAINTY TESS | 11 | 56.5 | m105 | PAUL HARVEY | DANIEL MORTON |
| 12 | I’LL HAVE A BIT | 10 | 56.5 | m96 | CHRIS PARNHAM | JOHN MCARDLE |
| 13 | ENTICING STAR | 13 | 56.5 | m96 | WILLIAM PIKE | ADAM DURRANT |
| 14 | SEANNIE | 9 | 56.5 | m77 | LUCY WARWICK | LINDSEY SMITH |
| 15 | VALOUR ROAD | 3 | 54.5 | m84 | BEN ALLEN | SIMON A. MILLER |
