The 2016 Winterbottom Stakes is the headline race of the weekend at Perth’s Ascot Racecourse, betting tips and updated odds for the Group 1 sprint found below.
2016 Winterbottom Stakes favourite Malaguerra is a must include in all exotic bets on the Group 1 at Ascot this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.
This year’s $1 million Group 1 Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) features 12 hopefuls with markets at Ladbrokes.com.au dominated by two of the interstate visitors Malaguerra ($3.30) and Terravista ($3.40).
Both horses have previously won the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington.
Terravista did so for Joe Pride back in 2014, while the now Peter Gelagotis-trained Malaguerra won the classic last time out during this year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival.
It’s been a while since seven-year-old Terravista was at his best, but jockey Hugh Bowman is confident from the barrier (5) over the distance (1200m) the veteran can return to winning form after an eye-catching second first-up.
Malaguerra meanwhile has the inside run from barrier one, a gate that has produced five Winterbottom Stakes winners (since 1983) with Takeover Target (2008) the most recent.
Favourites have an outstanding record in the Winterbottom Stakes, but it was the Perth form that franked that from interstate in last Saturday’s Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m).
Of the locals lining-up for the Winterbottom title this summer the best in betting include the ultra-consistent Chris Gangemi-trained Rock Magic ($8.50) coming off a Colonel Reeves Stakes second and the Grant & Alana Williams-trained Nicconi four-year-old State Solicitor ($9.50) chasing his third win at the track / distance on the trot.
So will the best in Winterbottom Stakes betting battle it out for the win or is there value to be found further down the markets from the likes of Gary Moore’s Stratum four-year-old from Sydney Takedown ($9) or Sean Casey’s Colonel Reeves Stakes winning four-year-old Vega Magic ($11)?
Earlier we published our exclusive 2016 Winterbottom Stakes Form Guide & Betting Preview and based on the facts and stats uncovered we’ve got our insider tips below.
1st
#8 Vega Magic ($11)
Tipping the first double-figure upset in the race since Hadabeclorka ($41 in 2010) with this in-form local Lope De Vega four-year-old. Out to be the first of the age since Ortensia (2009) to win, but the Colonel Reeves Stakes victory last time out was smart. The form of that race last held up in the Winterbottom when Barakey (2012) completed the double. Extra meters should suit Vega Magic on Saturday who is a 1200m specialist (9-7-1-1) and only loss at the track (5-4-0-0) to date was first-up when beaten 2.25 lengths by Rock Magic (subsequent second in the Colonel Reeves) over an unsuitably short 1000m. Loads of potential, gets a gun run from barrier two and ticks plenty of boxes including value.
2nd
#4 Rock Magic ($8.50)
Going the Perth form all the way and this seven-year-old is flying. He hasn’t finished out of the money in his past seven runs and gets things his way from barrier three. Jarrad Noske retains the ride and while history shows the horse is too old to win the Winterbottom, the lead-up form suggest he’ll be very competitive and shapes up as a definite danger.
3rd
#6 Malaguerra ($3.30)
The top fancy in betting out to salute for the punters for the fifth time in six years. Rails run looks ideal and comes off the Group 1 win down the Flemington straight on Emirates Stakes Day. The Darley Classic form held up here with Buffering (2013 & 2015) and he’ll be hard to hold out.
Whether you’re backing or sacking our 2016 Winterbottom Stakes betting tips, ensure you’ve got access to the best Perth Summer Racing Carnival odds and offers online at Ladbrokes.com.au.
