The final field of sprinters set to contest the $750,000 Group 2 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot Racecourse this Saturday November 27th has been released by Perth Racing today with last year’s winner Ortensia the most notable defector.
Tony Noonan’s classy mare Ortensia was not among the 2010 Winterbottom Stakes final field of 16 runners, plus one emergency, despite having dominated the ante-post betting markets.
Instead the controversial but outstanding mare will be saved for the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on December 12 for which connections received an invitation for from the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) late Sunday evening.
Ortensia will be the only Australian-trained horse to contest the Hong Kong International Sprint this year.
Prince of Wales Stakes winner Waratah’s Secret is now likely to start the favourite in the Winterbottom Stakes on Saturday, the David Harrison-trained four-year-old coming off a gallant second to Ma Ma Machine in the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m).
Adam Durrant’s six-year-old Ma Ma Machine is also backing up in the Winterbottom Stakes, the consistent galloper to be ridden by Alan Kennedy in the sprint showdown.
Other fancied horses among the Winterbottom Stakes field this year include eight-year-old Scenic gelding Marasco who won back-to-back stakes races at Ascot in the autumn before finishing eighth first-up in the Colonel Reeves, Mick Price’s Victorian sprinter True Persuasion, last year’s runner-up Idyllic Prince and classy Sydney gelding Whitefriars who took out the Salinger Stakes (1200m) on a Heavy Flemington track on Victoria Derby Day.
Top local trainer Neville Parnham will be represented by two of his stable stars with Tarzi and Elliotto both paid up for.
The 2010 Winterbottom Stakes barrier draw will be made tomorrow evening and published here at Races.com.au followed by a detailed form guide and betting preview later in the week, so bookmark this site.
Premier online bookmaker Luxbet will open their Winterbottom Stakes odds shortly so get ready by opening an account using the codeword EXTRA400 and enjoy a free bet worth double your first deposit!
2010 Winterbottom Stakes Final Field
| No. | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MARASCO | Daniel Staeck | Fred Kersley | 58.5 |
| 2 | TARZI | Steven Parnham | Neville Parnham | 58.5 |
| 3 | IDYLLIC PRINCE | Jason Brown | Jim Taylor | 58.5 |
| 4 | ELLIOTTO | - | Neville Parnham | 58.5 |
| 5 | REVOLITION | Brad Parnham | Paul Jordan | 58.5 |
| 6 | MA MA MACHINE | Alan Kennedy | Adam Durrant | 58.5 |
| 7 | WHITEFRIARS | - | Rick Worthington | 58.5 |
| 8 | KING KOOL KAT | Duncan Miller | Ian Glading | 58.5 |
| 9 | HADABECLORKA | - | Brent Larsson | 58.5 |
| 10 | WARATAH’S SECRET | - | David Harrison | 58.5 |
| 11 | TRUE PERSUASION | Brad Rawiller | Mick Price | 58.5 |
| 12 | DANTE’S VOLONTE | - | Simon Barrass | 58.5 |
| 13 | WERD | Craig Staples | Chris Gangemi | 58.5 |
| 14 | KASABIAN | - | Darren McAuliffe | 58.5 |
| 15 | MOONLIGHT DRIVE | - | Trevor Andrews | 58.5 |
| 16 | FOR YOUR EYES ONLY | Troy Turner | Paul Jordan | 56.5 |
| 17e | GRAND JARDIN | Jarrad Noske | Bruce Watkins | 58.5 |
