Smart mare Viddora delivered her trainer Lloyd Kennewell his first Group 1 winning trophy with a dominant win in the Group 1 $1m Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in Perth last Saturday.
Viddora, above, gave trainer Lloyd Kennewell his first Group 1 win in the 2017 Winterbottom Handicap at Acot in Perth. Photo by Jenny Barnes.
Winning jockey Joe Bowditch produced a ten out ten ride to bring Viddora from the second half of the field to score a one and a half lengths wins over the Lindsay Park trained Fuhryk ($12) and the first locally trained sprinter past the post, third placegetter Durendal ($26).
Favourite Rock Magic ($4.20) also ran on from back in the field to fill fifth position while the well fancied local State Solicitor ($5) never threatened to finish eighth.
Viddora was well ed at $5 after coming off some solid performances during the 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival which saw her beaten a lip by She Will Reign in the Group 1 $500,000 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on September 29 and then just missed a place when fourth to Hey Doc in the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on October 27.
Kennewell was both excited and relieved to have won his first Group 1 race which was also Viddora’s first visit to the Group 1 winner’s stall.
“Her form has been nearly unbeatable in great races. To get a Group 1 is just sensational,” Kennewell told the Herald Sun.
“We knew it was gonna happen, it was just a matter of time.
“Maybe it can be the leg up that I need. We were already going well but hopefully that opens the door for more.”
Kennewell said that Viddora will now head to the Gold Coast in Queensland and be prepared for the rich Magic Millions Carnival in January.
“She’ll have three of four days at home and then head up there to the Gold Coast for either the sprint or the mares race,” Kennewell said.
Bowditch knew that Viddora’s first Group 1 win wasn’t far off but is aiming higher with the five year old mare and is eyeing off a slot in the 2016 $10m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick in the Spring next year.
“I think she’s right up to The Everest,” Bowditch said.
“She’s right up there with the best sprinters.”
“I think she’s right up there in the ranks. She’s beaten a lot of those horses that are right up the top.”
2017 Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | VIDDORA | Lloyd Kennewell | Joe Bowditch | – | 7 | 56.5kg | $5 |
| 2 | 12 | FUHRYK | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Damien Oliver | 1.5L | 9 | 56.5kg | $12 |
| 3 | 3 | DURENDAL | Chris Gangemi | Shaun Mc Gruddy | 2L | 1 | 58.5kg | $26 |
| 4 | 7 | PROFIT STREET | Peter & Matthew Giadresco | Brad Parnham | 2.75L | 2 | 58.5kg | $21 |
| 5 | 1 | ROCK MAGIC | Chris Gangemi | Jarrad Noske | 3L | 6 | 58.5kg | $4.20F |
| 6 | 2 | SANTA ANA LANE | Anthony Freedman | Dean Yendall | 3L | 11 | 58.5kg | $9 |
| 7 | 11 | DAINTY TESS | Daniel Morton | Chris Parnham | 3L | 5 | 56.5kg | $18 |
| 8 | 8 | STATE SOLICITOR | Grant & Alana Williams | William Pike | 4.5L | 4 | 58.5kg | $5 |
| 9 | 13 | CAIPIRINHA | Simon A Miller | Joseph Azzopardi | 5.5L | 12 | 56.5kg | $20 |
| 10 | 10 | WHISPERING BROOK | Simon A Miller | Jason Brown | 5.75L | 8 | 56.5kg | $13 |
| 11 | 4 | DREAM LIFTER | Paul Hunter | Mitchell Pateman | 6L | 3 | 58.5kg | $61 |
| 12 | 5 | MALIBU STYLE | Neville Parnham | Steven Parnham | 12.75L | 10 | 58.5kg | $61 |
