Godolphin’s star galloper Trekking heads west on the weekend looking to return to winning form as the favourite in the 15-horse 2019 Winterbottom Stakes field in Perth.

Star galloper Trekking is favourite in the 15-horse Winterbottom Stakes 2019 field in Perth this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The Group 1 $1 million Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) is WA’s feature sprint, the weight-for-age showdown attracting a class line-up at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday.

Leading the Winterbottom Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au on the final field at $3 is the James Cummings-trained Street Cry gelding Trekking.

Kerrin McEvoy rides the $3.4 million earner who presents fit fifth-up off a super consistent spring.

Winner of Brisbane’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) during the winter, Trekking won the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) second-up this prep before two close placings in Sydney.

In the $14 million The Everest (1200m) he was a length off the three-year-old champion Yes Yes Yes before finishing second behind Pierata in the $1 million Redzel Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on November 2.

Kept fresh since, he looks a hard to beat favourite in the Winterbottom Stakes.

Cummings and the powerhouse Godolphin stable make a three-pronged attack on this year’s Winterbottom Stakes field also saddling-up Home Of The Brave and Viridine in the feature race.

Both horses currently pay $15 in the pre-barrier draw Winterbottom Stakes betting markets and are due to be ridden by Damian Lane and Damien Oliver respectively.

Irish-bred Starspangledbanner eight-year-old Home Of The Brave is out to break a notable winning drought not having won since his Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) success in the wet back in September of 2018.

He was last seen racing at Sandown on Zipping Classic Day finishing second toe Teleplay in a photo finish in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m) and looks hard to have here rising in grade.

Viridine is a last start winner on the same November 16 meet at Ladbrokes Park taking out the Listed Doveton Stakes (1000m) carrying 59kg, the Poet’s Voice five-year-old not looking a real danger over the extra distance.

Following Trekking in the Winterbottom Stakes markets is another last start winner with the Simon Miller-trained Flirtini ($5.50) chasing her third win on the trot.

Paul Harvey continues his successful association with the in-form Artie Schiller mare who is the best of the local hopes in the Winterbottom Stakes this Perth Summer Racing Carnival.

She comes off back-to-back wins at the track having won the Group 3 Prince Of Wales Stakes (1000m) on November 2 and the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) a fortnight later.

Miller will also be represented by fellow four-year-old Valour Road ($10), a dual Group 2 winner racing second-up after finishing two lengths back fourth to his stablemate in the Prince Of Wales Stakes.

Other standout Winterbottom Stakes runners this season include Wanted grey Vital Silver who is undefeated (3:3-0-0) at the track and racing for the first time since his surprise second in The Valley’s Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m), and the 2017 Manikato winner Hey Doc having just his second start since September last year.

See below for the full Winterbottom Stakes 2019 field, barriers to be announced on Tuesday evening, with markets for the race available here courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.