Jockey Ben Melham continues his association with Malaguerra in the 2016 Winterbottom Stakes in Perth on Saturday and tips the last start Group 1 winner as hard to beat again.
Ben Melham is confident heading into the 2016 Winterbottom Stakes on Saturday aboard the favourite Malaguerra. Photo: Daniel Costello.
The Victorian-based Melham was on the Peter Gelagotis-trained five-year-old two back for a second in Caulfield’s Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) and again on Emirates Stakes Day at Flemington for the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) win down the straight.
He also enjoyed an elite level sprint win on the Hong Kong-bound Rebel Dane, who he is booked to ride overseas on December 3, at the Valley in October’s Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m).
That winning form is something he hopes to bring over to W.A. on the weekend, Melham to make the trip on Friday.
“I need to trial Rebel Dane in Sydney and I’ll have other commitments here before a flight to Perth,” the 28-year-old told The West Australian.
“I haven’t ridden in Perth for two years, but I’m familiar with Ascot and I’ve had a bit of luck there.
“I won the WA Derby on Mystic Prince three years ago. I’ve also managed to win a couple of other good races.”
Having just his second start in the $1 million Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m), Melham is brimming with confident in his mount Malaguerra who is the narrow early favourite in betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.
“Malaguerra should be even further improved for the Winterbottom,” he said.
“He was racing only second-up in the Darley and I felt he’d had enough on the line.
“He’ll be up against class horses in Perth, but should be hard to beat again.”
Melham has plenty experience in the saddle of Malaguerra who he also rode nine times on the trot last season for six wins before his transfer to Gelagotis.
“I won six races on him before he was transferred this year to Peter Gelagotis’ stable,” he said.
“Last month I got back on him, and he ran second in the Schillaci Stakes.”
After the Group 1 Flemington win over the Melbourne Cup Carnival the Magnus gelding is at $3.30 in Winterbottom Stakes odds to complete the double for the first time since Buffering (2013).
The since retired Buffering also won the Winterbottom Stakes last Perth Summer Racing Carnival on the back of a Darley Classic fourth in the lead-up.
He was the only Winterbottom Stakes winner in the past five years not to come off a last start win for his second in 2015.
The Perth form stacked-up last weekend when Scales Of Justice held off the Chris Waller-trained defending winner Good Project in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m).
The best fancied of the locals in Winterbottom Stakes betting on Saturday is the Chris Gangemi-trained Rock Magic ($8) who comes off a second on November 12 at the track in the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m).
Also at a current quote of $8 are the Grant & Alana Williams-trained local sprint star State Solicitor chasing his seventh win from eight career starts and Sydney visitor Takedown who could head to the Hong Kong Sprint in December should he win on Saturday.
Joe Pride’s 2014 Darley Classic winner Terravista meanwhile is battling for favouritism sitting second to Malaguerra in the markets at $3.60 to post his first win since October last year.
To back the favourite in the Winterbottom Stakes 2016 or to tip an upset result at juicy pricing head to Ladbrokes.com.au now – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
