On Tuesday evening the barrier draw for this Saturday’s $750,000 Group 2 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot Racecourse was released with early favourite Waratah’s Secret the big winner drawing the prized barrier one.

The 2010 Burswood Winterbottom Stakes is the richest sprint race held in WA each year and is the second major feature of the Festival of Perth Racing.

A field of 16 star sprinters will take to the Ascot track on Saturday November 27, first emergency Grand Jardin gaining a start after True Persuasion was scratched from the field.

Mick Price’s Bel Esprit four-year-old True Persuasion drew wide with barrier 15 for the Winterbottom Stakes, but the Victorian galloper has been forced to miss the race after failing to gain a flight to Perth.

The David Harrison-trained Waratah’s Secret is likely to start the favourite after coming up trumps with gate one from the Winterbottom Stakes barrier draw.

The consistent four-year-old gelding comes into the race on the back of some terrific spring form that includes a win in the Group 3 Prince of Wales Stakes (1200m) back in October and a last start second to Ma Ma Machine in the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m).

Another top fancy in the Winterbottom Stakes betting is Whitefriars, Rick Worthington’s in-form gelding also drawing favourably with barrier three.

Sydney galloper Whitefriars will have their first Perth start for the season on Saturday following impressive form in New South Wales and Victoria including their victory in the Group 2 Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 30.

Other winners from the barrier draw include veteran seven-year-old King Kool Kat (barrier four) and Colonel Reeves Stakes winner Ma Ma Machine (barrier six).

The Fred Kersley-trained Marasco has drawn wider with barrier nine but is still a real chance as one of the only runners in the field to drop back in weight for the Winterbottom, while the Neville Parnham-trained Tarzi and eight-year-old Scenic gelding Idyllic Prince have both suffered a blow drawing wide with barriers 17 and 14 respectively.

Stay tuned to Races.com.au for our exclusive 2010 Winterbottom Stakes form guide, betting preview and tips later in the week.

Leading online bookmaker Luxbet are set to open their Winterbottom Stakes betting markets and odds shortly so take five minutes now to join Luxbet and enjoy the best prices in Australia on your favourites!

2010 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Barrier Draw