Horse Racing

Short-priced favourite to take out the 2011 Winterbottom Stakes in Perth this Saturday, Ortensia is set to gain even more support in the markets after the classy six-year-old came up trumps with gate two at Tuesday night’s barrier draw.

2011 Winterbottom Stakes favourite Ortensia has drawn well in barrier two

One of two elite levels on the Ascot race card on Saturday, the $500,000 Group 1 Burswood Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) features 14 sprinters who have all now been allocated barriers.

Ortensia was the big winner in the Winterbottom Stakes barrier draw, the now Paul Messara-trained daughter of Testa Rossa, who saluted in the 2009 Winterbottom, to jump from two with spruik hoop Craig Williams in the mount.

Prior to the release of barriers Ortensia was already the firm $2.40 Luxbet Winterbottom Stakes betting favourite after her return from retirement also saw her return to the winners’ stall with a strong first-up success in the Listed G.H. Mumm Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on November 3.

Second favourite in the Winterbottom Stakes odds this year is the Peter Snowden-trained Sydney raider Rarefied paying $6 at Luxbet.

The consistent Commands five-year-old, last seen finishing a nose away second to Sister Madly in the Group 2 Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 29, also fared well drawing midfield in barrier seven.

Rarefied made an appearance at Ascot’s Breakfast with the Stars on Tuesday morning working well in a track gallop.

“He has settled in as well as we could have hoped,” Snowden said.

“We gave him a good clean out on the course proper which is his main work ahead of Saturday.”

Other top fancies in the Winterbottom Stakes markets did not have the same luck with Fred Kersley’s local Scenic six-year-old Grand Nirvana in double digits with barrier 10, Choisir five-year-old Kid Choisir in 13 and Blackfriars four-year-old All Friared Up also wide in gate 12.

The above trio were all under $10 in the Luxbet markets prior to the barrier draw, but could drift out.

Longer-priced hopefuls that drew advantageously and could see money come in for them include Grant Williams’ last-start Colonel Reeves Stakes winning mare Avante (barrier three), Williams’ latest stable acquisition Ego’s Dare (barrier five) and Chris Gangemi’s in-form Hussonet seven-year-old Werd (barrier six).

Last year’s Winterbottom Stakes winner Hadabeclorka jumped from barrier five for their success 12 months ago, the now 10-year-old coming up with gate nine as they attempt to go back-to-back on Saturday.

See below for the complete 2011 Winterbottom Stakes field, barriers and jockeys.

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2011 Winterbottom Stakes Barriers & Field