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A top edition of Perth’s premier sprint race is set to light up Ascot Racecourse on Saturday, and it is a tight betting battle between flying local Jokers Grin and the two-time defending champion Overpass from Sydney in the 2025 Winterbottom Stakes odds.
The field for Saturday’s Group 1 $1.5 million Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) is down to just nine starters following the early withdrawal of Man Crush (7) and Spacewalk (1).
It may be a diminutive line-up but the quality of contenders remains elite with Bernie Miller‘s reigning The Quokka winner Jokers Grin narrowly leading the Winterbottom Stakes odds at $2.45 and firming through Ladbrokes.com.au.
Currently into gate five with Patrick Carbery to ride, the flying five-year-old is a genuine Ascot track specialist boasting an outstanding record at the course (8:6-2-0) including having won his past three on the trot.
He overcame a wide alley at blowout odds to claim the $4 million The Quokka in the autumn before coming back this prep in equally impressive form to go back-to-back in the Group 3 Prince Of Wales Stakes – Colonel Reeves Stakes.
Coming back a kilo at WFA this weekend he’s in red-hot form and only improves third-up and fit ready to keep the wins coming.
The big threat now on the second line of Winterbottom Stakes betting having eased out slightly to $2.70 is the Bjorn Baker trained Sydney raider Overpass who has won the past two editions of the famous WA sprint race.
History will be made should he salute again on Saturday with no horse having won the event more than twice to date.
The now seven-year-old son of Vancouver gets things his way from a favourable barrier two draw with Josh Parr travelling west to stick in the saddle.
He may be stabled at Warwick Farm, but Overpass has become something of a cult horse over in Perth boasting four wins from five starts at the Ascot track including not only his dual Winterbottom trophies but also back-to-back Quokka victories in 2023 and 2024.
In this year’s Quokka race he suffered his first loss at the circuit when fifth beaten 1.6 lengths by Jokers Grin who is out to turn the tables on this weekend.
Winless since his successful Winterbottom title defence last summer, Overpass heads over with his runs well spaced after finishing a credible fourth to the brilliant Hong Kong hero Ka Ying Rising in the $20 million The Everest back on October 18.
Outside the dominant duo the next best in the markets at an equal quote of $9 each are the Robbie Griffiths trained Rey Magnerio boosted by the bookie of the ‘Wizard of the West’ Willie Pike and Trevor Andrews‘ boom Bivouac filly Luana Miss.
A six-year-old son of Magnus with a solid 1200m strike-rate, Rey Magnerio won the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint fresh over the sprint in Melbourne before a close last start third at Flemington giving weight away at his latest over 1000m.
He should appreciate the six-furlongs now getting in equal in the weights and the fact that Perth’s leading hoop is in the saddle has the punters biting.
Luana Miss meanwhile chases a hat-trick, but despite having the competitive edge form-wise, she’s at a historical disadvantage as a three-year-old filly.
No three-year-old has headed the Winterbottom Stakes results since Hardrada for his first of two wins in 2002, but punters have to flip right back to 1975 to find the last winning filly – Belinda’s Star.
Still, there’s money for this well-bred youngster who is building an excellent record at her home track (6:4-1-0) and comes in off a rich vein of form with back-to-back wins here including her latest in the Listed Placid Arc Stakes with 55kg.
The fact she enjoys all a notable drop back to just 51.5kg at WFA puts her right in the mix and she’s being kept safe despite drawing the outside alley for her regular rider Shaun O’Donnell.
The 2025 Winterbottom Stakes is set to run as Ascot Race 9 at 5:00pm (AWST) / 8:00pm (AEDT) as the penultimate event on the card.
Winterbottom Stakes 2025 Odds
|
1. Overpass (2)
J: Josh Parr 58.5kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
||
| Second run back. Comes off a 42-day let-up. First-up after five months 4th of 12 at Randwick in the G1 Everest on October 18 over 1200m, 1.5 len behind Ka Ying Rising with 58.5kg at $41. Previously second-up 5th of 13 at this track Quokka on April 26 over 1200m, 1.5 len behind Jokers Grin carrying 58.5kg at $2.05. | ||
|
2. Jokers Grin (5)
J: Patrick Carbery 58.5kg
T: Bernie Miller |
||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. First-up favourite; won by 0.8 len at this track G3 Prince Of Wales November 1 over 1000m defeating Oscar's Fortune carrying 58.5kg at $1.60. Second-up favourite; won by 0.6 len at this track G3 Colonel Reeves November 15 over 1100m defeating Oscar's Fortune carrying 59.5kg at $1.75. | ||
|
3. Oscar's Fortune (4)
J: Chris Parnham 58.5kg
T: Dion Luciani |
||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. First-up raced on speed throughout when 2nd of 7 at this track in the G3 Prince Of Wales on November 1 over 1000m, 0.8 len behind Jokers Grin with 58.5kg at $3.20. Second run from a spell 2nd of 9 at this track in the G3 Colonel Reeves on November 15 over 1100m, 0.6 len behind Jokers Grin with 57.5kg at $2.80. | ||
|
4. Rey Magnerio (6)
J: William Pike 58.5kg
T: Robbie Griffiths |
||
| Third-up today and placed third-up previously. Resuming favourite; won by a neck at Caulfield G2 Caul Sprint October 18 over 1000m defeating Geegees Mistruth with 59kg at $7.50. Second run from a spell came home strongly from last on the turn; 3rd of 11 at Flemington in the LR Century Stks on November 6 over 1000m, 1.0 len behind Stokke carrying 59kg at $2.50. | ||
|
5. Rope Them In (8)
J: Shaun McGruddy 58.5kg
T: Steve Wolfe |
||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. Resuming came from midfield and won by a neck at this track LR Crawford October 18 over 1200m defeating London's Image carrying 58.5kg at $6. Second run from a spell 2nd of 13 at this track in the G3 Asian Beau on November 1 over 1400m, neck behind Watch Me Rock with 61kg at $17. | ||
|
6. Libertad (1)
J: Jamie Mott 58.5kg
T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
||
| At the latest run 4th of 9 at Flemington in the G1 Vrc Sprint on November 8 over 1200m, on rain affected going; 2 len behind Giga Kick carrying 58.5kg at $81. The start before that 7th of 13 at Flemington in the G3 Rising Fast on November 1 over 1200m, 2.5 len behind Caballus carrying 59kg at $18. | ||
|
9. Repossession (3)
J: Brad Parnham 58.5kg
T: Chris & Michael Gangemi |
||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. Resuming 3rd of 7 at this track in the G3 Prince Of Wales on November 1 over 1000m, 1.75 len behind Jokers Grin with 58.5kg at $5.50. Second-up raced on speed throughout when 3rd of 9 at this track in the G3 Colonel Reeves on November 15 over 1100m, 3 len behind Jokers Grin with 57.5kg at $9.50. | ||
|
10. Benedetta (7)
J: Daniel Stackhouse 56.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. Resuming got back early 7th of 9 at Caulfield in the G2 Schillaci on October 11 over 1100m, 4 len behind Giga Kick with 56.5kg at $7.50. Second run from a spell 5th of 9 at Flemington in the G1 Vrc Sprint on November 8 over 1200m, on a wet track; 3 len behind Giga Kick carrying 56.5kg at $19. | ||
|
11. Luana Miss (9)
J: Shaun O'Donnell 51.5kg
T: Trevor Andrews |
||
| Chasing a hat-trick. At the latest run favourite; came from midfield and won by 0.9 len at this track LR Placid Ark November 15 over 1200m defeating Sherpa Express with 55kg at $1.50. The race before that favourite; won by 1.75 len at this track Pa Prelude November 1 over 1100m defeating Twisted Steel with 55kg at $4.20. | ||
| 7. Man Crush (7) Scratched: | ||
| 8. Spacewalk (1) Scratched: | ||
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