The Perth carnival continues this Saturday at Ascot with the running of the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes over 1200m.
The race has been a Group 1 since 2011 and has been won by some truly great horses over the years including Placid Ark (1987), Miss Andretti (2005), Takeover Target (2008), and Buffering (2013 & 2015)
Rock Magic
Rock Magic will go around in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes for an astonishing sixth time at the age of 12 on Saturday!
In this race last year he finished third, coming through the Prince Of Wales Stakes where he ran third and his form is very similar in 2021.
He has returned two nice efforts leading into his final run, beaten less than two lengths behind Elite Street in the Prince of Wales four weeks ago.
If he wins, he will be the oldest horse to win a Group 1 race in Australia.
You can check out our Rock Magic video on Youtube here.
Elite Street
Elite Street heads into the feature race at Ascot on Saturday having won all three of his starts this prep and eight of 16 overall.
He took his prize money past the $1 million mark when scoring by just over half a length at Group 3 level last start over 1100m and he is certainly won of the leading chances.
At this track he has won six of eight and will jump from barrier 10.
Red Can Man
Red Can Man is a super consistent gelding who returned some good efforts when he headed to the east cost over the early part of the spring.
He won the Group 3 Sir Monash Stakes at Caulfield and was then beaten less than 1.25 lengths in his next three starts including a third in the Group 2 P.B Lawrence Stakes behind Sierra Sue.
The five year old was beaten a length behind Elite Street last start and will appreciate the step up in distance.
Laverrod
Laverrod has been solid without setting the track alight in his two runs so far this prep.
He was beaten 3.5 lengths in the Listed Black Heart Bart at Belmont before he weakened late in the piece at Ascot behind Elite Street to finish 10th.
Prefer others.
Money Matters
Gangemi racing will saddle up Rock Magic in the 2021 Winterbottom Stakes but they also have another live chance with Money Matters.
The much younger gelding snuck up the inside rail in the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes to threaten before peaking on his run late.
It will be hard to see him turning the tables on Elite Street in this but he’s drawn well in barrier six.
Indian Pacific
We saw what Indian Pacific was capable of when he was beaten a nose in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap back in March.
The son of Zoustar has won seven of 18 career starts but has not been first past the post in his last seven in a row.
He has been beaten less than two lengths in his last two starts here at Ascot and at his best he can feature in a race of this quality.
Outrageous
There is nothing to suggest that this horse is capable of winning a Group 1 race albeit a weak one this year.
His best form has been fresh but that is the only positive thing I can say about his chances.
Cup Night
Patrick Carbery will saddle up six year old gelding Cup Night in the 2021 Winterbottom Stakes.
He beat home Rock Magic to claim the Group 3 Northam Stakes back in May and wasn’t far away in the Roma Cup behind Money Matters and Elite Street.
He will be asked to contest this race first up from a spell but his most recent trial suggests he is ready to go.
Stageman
Chris Parnham found a lot of trouble at a crucial stage last start on Stageman and the seven year old gelding would have finished a lot closer without the traffic jam in front of him.
Parnham goes off and Johnston-Porter goes on but he will still need to improve dramatically to beat Elite Street.
Carocapo
Carocapo was well off the pace at Listed level in his first two runs this prep but he dramatically improved to finish just over a length behind Elite Street last start.
He is not suited back at weight-for-age in this contest and I’m happy to look elsewhere.
Iseered Iseered
Iseered Iseered is a progressive and talented young horse who put together three wins in a row earlier this prep making it six wins from 11 career race starts.
He had eight weeks between runs when finishing just over two lengths behind Elite Street last start.
Mitchell Pateman will steer from barrier five.
Long Beach
Long Beach has been a consistent performer over his short racing career having placed in 12 of 18 career starts.
He put in a career best performance when finishing third at Group 3 level last start and if he takes another step forward in his progression, he can feature.
River Beau
River Beau has been far from disgraced in both his runs so far this prep but a race of this quality looks beyond his abilities.
Flirtini
Flirtini is a mare that is capable of producing a rating high enough to be competitive in this event.
She ran fifth in the race last year and unlike many of these horses, she will not rise in weight off the back of her 11th in the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes where she was beaten 2.7 lengths.
Graceful Girl
Graceful Girl rocketed home late in the race behind Elite Street last start and the rise in distance will only suit the chestnut mare.
The daughter of Nicconi has won five of 10 career starts and been unplaced just once and although William Pike will have a tricky barrier to navigate, you can look for the two late in the race.
Wilchino
Wilchino is a lightly raced and very progressive five year old mare who sneaks into the race in excellent form.
She’s won her last six in a row leading into this Group 1 event and it will take a braver man than I to suggest she can not continue to improve and be a chance.
Triple Missile
The Lindsey Smith trained gelding is the first emergency for the 2021 Winterbottom Stakes.
He was beaten over two lengths by Wilchino last start.
All Day Session
All Day Session was well beaten by Elite Street in the Colonel Reeves Stakes last start.
He is the second emergency.
