Horse Racing

Superstar sprinter Black Caviar may have been ruled out as a 2011 Winterbottom Stakes contender after earlier plans for our great mare to head to Perth for the November 19 showdown, but there will still be plenty of talent in the Winterbottom field with 35 other horses entered.

Western Australia’s latest race to gain elite level status, the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) is now a Group 1 feature on the calendar worth a total $500,000 in prize money.

Ortensia will seek a second Winterbottom Stakes victory in 2011

With Black Caviar out, the futures 2011 Winterbottom Stakes odds at Luxbet are led by the lightly-raced Barakey at a quote of $2.20.

Prepared by Jim Taylor, Key Business gelding Barakey has raced six times to date for six wins.

Although untested at Group level, Barakey has won his six starts by a collective 17.5 lengths, his latest being over the Winterbottom Stakes track and distance last Saturday.

There are three other early Winterbottom Stakes entries at single-figure odds with:

• Ortensia ($3.30 Luxbet): Winner of the 2009 Winterbottom, Testa Rossa mare Ortensia is now raced in Scone by Paul Messara and it looks a successful association after the six-year-old resumed on Crown Oaks Day to win the Listed G.H. Mumm Stakes (1100m) with ease from a double-digit draw carrying 57kg

• Waratah’s Secret ($5.50 Luxbet): David Harrison-trained Oratorio gelding, multiple Group winner in WA most recently in the Gr. 3 Prince Of Wales Stakes (1200m) for the second year at Ascot on October 22, stepped up to 1400m last Saturday to finish third in the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes, so coming back to 1200m this super consistent galloper looks a genuine threat, ran fourth in the Winterbottom 12 months ago and looks to have come on since

• All Friared Up ($8 Luxbet): Stan Bates-trained local Blackfriars mare, resumed with a first-up third in the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) on November 1 and looks to back to their best

Other notable Winterbottom Stakes hopefuls this year include Peter Snowden’s Sydney visitor Rarefied who finished a nose away second to Sister Madly last-start in the Group 2 Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington, the Simon Miller-trained five-year-old Power Princess, Grant Williams’ last-start Colonel Reeves Stakes winner Avante, Colonel Reeves runner-up Werd and Albert The Fat.

The Chris Waller-trained Albert The Fat was the upset winner of the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington over the weekend, the rejuvenated Magic Albert seven-year-old holding off Peter Moody’s King’s Rose by a nose.

Reigning Winterbottom Stakes winner Hadabeclorka has been entered to defend their title, paying $41 at Luxbet to go back-to-back, while last year’s runner-up King Kool Kat ($31 Luxbet) is also among the nominations.

The Winterbottom Stakes is one of three Group features of Ascot’s Super Saturday with the $1 million Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) and $350,000 Group 2 W.A. Guineas (1600m) also set to run on the 19^th.

Stay tuned to Races.com.au for all the latest field and betting updates on these great Perth Summer Racing Carnival features.

You don’t have to wait until race day to have a punt on the Winterbottom Stakes thanks to Luxbet who already have generous futures betting open.

So visit Luxbet now and open your new account with Australia’s favourite bookie and enjoy a bonus bet valued up to $400 when you deposit and quote the code BONUSBET!

2011 Winterbottom Stakes Entries

*Fixed Win Odds from Luxbet and subject to change