Local sprinter State Solicitor remains at the top of the market order after drawing nicely at barrier four in the Group 1 $1m Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday.
Viddora, above, has drawn barrier 7 in the Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot. Photo by Jenny Barnes.
Leading Perth rider William Pike will be able to give the $3 favourite every chance in the thirteen horse Winterbottom Stakes field to claim the trophy for the Perth Summer Racing Carnival’s premier sprint.
The Grant and Alana Williams trained State Solicitor is the winner of nine of his twelve race starts and will be chasing his fourth win on the trot following his last start victory in the Group 3 $150,000 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) at Ascot on November 18.
Smart Adelaide mare Viddora has drawn in the middle of the pack at seven and is challenging State Solicitor for favouritism and is the second pick at $4 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
The Lloyd Kennewell trained Viddora has been around the money at her last two starts at Group 1 level and with Saturday’s jockey, Joe Bowditch, in the saddle the I Am Invincible mare finished second to She Will Reign in the Group 1 $500,000 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on September 29 followed by a fourth to Hey Doc in the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on October 27.
“We thought we won the Moir first-up, it looked like she’d won, and got beaten a lip,” Kennewell told AAP.
“Then she just had no luck the other night in the Manikato. Joe Bowditch hopped on the back of Vega Magic who eventually stopped in front of him around the corner when he needed to be out and going. She just didn’t have any luck otherwise I think she runs first or second.
“She’s in really good order and I’m really looking forward to the Winterbottom.”
“She looks the ideal horse for a Winterbottom.”
Jarrad Noske should be able to give number one saddlecloth holder Rock Magic a nice run from barrier six while last start Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Santa Ana Lane has drawn awkwardly at barrier eleven.
Rock Magic at $6.50 and Santa Ana Lane at $7.50 are still well supported in the betting.
$26 chance Durendal has drawn the rails while the $81 outsider of the field The River will jump from the widest gate in the thirteen horse field.
Early betting for the 2017 Winterbottom Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3 State Solicitor, $4 Viddora, $6.50 Rock Magic, $7.50 Santa Ana Lane, $11 Fuhryk, $15 Dainty Tess, $17 Caipirinha, $21 Profit Street, $26 Durendal, Malibu Style, Whispering Brook, $61 Dream Lifter, $81 The River.
2017 Winterbottom Stakes Field
| # | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x4011x4376 | ROCK MAGIC | Chris Gangemi | Jarrad Noske | 6 | 58.5kg |
| 2 | 49155x341x | SANTA ANA LANE | Anthony Freedman | Dean Yendall | 11 | 58.5kg |
| 3 | 226x438x53 | DURENDAL | Chris Gangemi | Shaun Mc Gruddy | 1 | 58.5kg |
| 4 | 3x4223x0x3 | DREAM LIFTER | Paul Hunter | Mitchell Pateman | 3 | 58.5kg |
| 5 | 2125×64370 | MALIBU STYLE | Neville Parnham | Steven Parnham | 10 | 58.5kg |
| 6 | 58042x33x1 | THE RIVER | Trevor Andrews | Glenn Smith | 13 | 58.5kg |
| 7 | 5233112×24 | PROFIT STREET | Peter & Matthew Giadresco | Brad Parnham | 2 | 58.5kg |
| 8 | x116x61x11 | STATE SOLICITOR | Grant & Alana Williams | William Pike | 4 | 58.5kg |
| 9 | x22x212x24 | VIDDORA | Lloyd Kennewell | Joe Bowditch | 7 | 56.5kg |
| 10 | 7306×53736 | WHISPERING BROOK | Simon A Miller | Jason Brown | 8 | 56.5kg |
| 11 | 34212×1215 | DAINTY TESS | Daniel Morton | Chris Parnham | 5 | 56.5kg |
| 12 | 10x21x7819 | FUHRYK | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Damien Oliver | 9 | 56.5kg |
| 13 | 2x116x4372 | CAIPIRINHA | Simon A Miller | Joseph Azzopardi | 12 | 56.5kg |