After originally attracting 57 early entries the latest round of scratchings for this Saturday’s Winterbottom Stakes 2016 has 13 hopefuls heading towards the Ascot Racecourse feature.
Malaguerra is one of the best entered Winterbottom Stakes 2016 horses for Saturday’s Perth Group 1 at Ascot. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The second elite level of the Perth Summer Racing Carnival, the $1 million Group 1 Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) runs under weight-for-age conditions on the weekend.
There are currently 13 entries heading towards the classic including the highly-fancied interstate duo of Malaguerra and Terravista.
The pair are battling it out for favouritism in the pre-field Winterbottom Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au with the Peter Gelagotis-trained Malaguerra narrow top fancy at $3.30.
A five-year-old son of Magnus, the in-form gelding was last seen winning Flemington’s Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) on November 5.
He now heads west for his shot at back-to-back Group 1 victories looking to add to his smart record over the Winterbottom Stakes distance (7-5-1-0).
The Darley Classic produced last year’s Winterbottom Stakes winner Buffering who improved on a fourth in the Melbourne Cup Carnival lead-up.
Buffering also won the 2013 Winterbottom Stakes on the back of a Darley Classic win that spring, a double Malaguerra is chasing this season.
Joe Pride’s seven-year-old son of Captain Rio Terravista is hot on Malaguerra’s heels in the latest Winterbottom Stakes markets at a current quote of $3.70.
The veteran sprinter comes off an Oaks Day second to Redzel in the Listed G.H. Mumm Stakes (1000m), a brave effort under the 60.5kg top weight.
He will enjoy stepping up in distance on Saturday boasting five wins and three thirds from 11 previous runs over 1200m.
Terravista also drops to 58.5kg at WFA and jockey Hugh Bowman retains the ride second-up on the 2014 Darley Classic winner.
Local trainers Grant & Alana Williams have three remaining Winterbottom Stakes entries including the flying State Solicitor.
Nicconi four-year-old State Solicitor is the best fancied of the locals to take out the Group 1 this weekend having won six of his seven career starts to date.
He has had two runs for two wins at the Ascot track and has been beaten just once in six 1200m runs.
State Solicitor rises notably in class however after back-to-back wins at the track / distance as the odds-on favourite this campaign in Benchmark 72+ status races.
He could be ed in the Winterbottom Stakes field by stablemates Silverstream and Battle Hero.
Silverstream is a five-year-old Al Maher mare out to atone for her 15th of 16 runners in last weekend’s Listed Jungle Mist Classic (1200m).
That was her fourth disappointing run at the tail end of the field this prep.
Battle Hero also finished well-beaten last start on November 12 when second last in the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m).
Colonel Reeves Stakes winner Vega Magic is likely to back-up in the Winterbottom Stakes on the two week break, the Sean Casey-trained track specialist after a double most recently completed by Barakey (2012).
Other notable hopes include Colonel Reeves runner-up Rock Magic, the Lindsay Park-trained Darley Classic fifth placed mare Sheidel who boasts nine wins from 10 runs at Ascot and her stablemate Keen Array.
See below for the latest Winterbottom Stakes 2016 entries and stay tuned for the final field, barriers and updated markets from Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
2016 Winterbottom Stakes Entries
Ascot Racecourse – 26/11/2016
| # | Horse | Weight | Rating | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKO | 58.5kg | 90 | TBA | Ross Price |
| 2 | REGAL COMMANDER | 58.5kg | 84 | TBA | G Durrant & Jason Miller |
| 3 | SILVERSTREAM | 56.5kg | 82 | TBA | Grant & Alana Williams |
| 4 | BATTLE HERO | 58.5kg | 100 | TBA | Grant & Alana Williams |
| 5 | SHEIDEL | 56.5kg | 98 | Damien Oliver | David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig |
| 6 | FIRST AMONG EQUALS | 58.5kg | 102 | Brad Parnham | Simon A. Miller |
| 7 | STATE SOLICITOR | 58.5kg | 76 | TBA | Grant & Alana Williams |
| 8 | ROCK MAGIC | 58.5kg | 103 | Jarrad Noske | Chris Gangemi |
| 9 | MILITARY REIGN | 56.5kg | 95 | Corey Brown | Darren McAuliffe |
| 10 | VEGA MAGIC | 58.5kg | 91 | TBA | Sean Casey |
| 11 | KEEN ARRAY | 58.5kg | – | Chris Parnham | David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig |
| 12 | TERRAVISTA | 58.5kg | – | Hugh Bowman | Joesph Pride |
| 13 | MALAGUERRA | 58.5kg | – | Ben Melham | Peter Gelagotis |
