Group 1 racing continues at Perth’s Ascot Racecourse on 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Day!
There are ten winners to be found, and you can find all of my thoughts and 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Day Tips right here.
Amelia Park Handicap (2100m) – 3:05pm AEDT
Diamond Scene has recorded three wins from as many starts this time in and looms as the one to beat again in the first on Winterbottom Stakes Day.
The Donna Riordan-trained gelding was an eye-catching winner in Class 3 company at his first run back, and he has only proven to be more dominant at each of his two subsequent starts.
He’s hard fit, Willie Pike rides and I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Diamond Scene
Schweppes Handicap (1500m) – 3:45pm AEDT
Yonga Lass is chasing a hat-trick when she steps out on Saturday, and she looks well placed to pull it off.
The Grant & Alana Williams-trained mare has barely put a hoof wrong this time in, winning three of four, and beating home some classy opposition over 1400m here last time out.
She too is in peak fitness, and she just need some luck in running to figure in the finish again.
Suggested Bet: No. 9 Yonga Lass
Quayclean Handicap (1000m) – 4:25pm AEDT
Hang Glider returned an impressive winner here at Ascot in November, and he looks capable of making it two on the trot when he goes around on Winterbottom Stakes Day.
The Flying Artie gelding has been a consistent performer since debuting, but there’s little doubt that the best performance of his career was the one over this route first-up, when he strode away to win by more than two lengths.
His second-up record is very competitive, and something like this looks the next logical step for him to take.
Suggested Bet: No. 4 Hang Glider
Drummond Golf Handicap (1800m) – 5:05pm AEDT
Mountain Ash has been knocking on the door of a win for more than a month, and he gets another great chance on Winterbottom Stakes Day.
The Safeguard gelding has finished second at each of his last three appearances, and only narrowly denied by Holy Enchantment over a mile here last time out.
He’s hard fit, the small rise in trips suits, and he might not be offered a better opportunity than this.
Suggested Bet: No. 7 Mountain Ash
Regional Championship Final: The Road To Ascot (1200m) – 5:45pm AEDT
Mungo Jerry has improved noticeably with each start back this time, and he is a fitting favourite in betting for the final of this series.
The Sooboog gelding finished midfield, beaten two and a half lengths at his home Kalgoorlie track back in August, and after only just missing in Class 2 company second-up, he has since recorded consecutive wins.
This has always been the major target for him this time, and his winning chances have been enhanced with the booking of William Pike.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Mungo Jerry
Furphy Handicap (1400m) – 6:25pm AEDT
This shapes as one of the more open races on the program and at publish, we’re faced with $5.50 the field.
Belgrano Belle has been racing in consistent form this time, and I am eager to have an each way play again on her this week at around the $7 mark (at publish).
The Rogano mare hasn’t missed placing in four starts back this time, and after an easy win at Northam back in October, she was unlucky to only just miss here last time out.
She has options in running from the rails draw and it another who will be steered by Willie Pike this week.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Belgrano Belle
Listed Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic (1400m) – 7:02pm AEDT
Augment steps out this week a picture of health, and this looks a great bit of black type for her.
The Exceed And Excel filly was an eye-catching winner over 1200m here in October, and she has since placed in both the Belgravia Stakes and the Placid Ark, finishing within a length of the winner both times.
She’s drawn and weighted ideally, and I simply do not think she’ll be faced with a better opportunity to win a feature race.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Augment
Listed Jungle Dawn Classic (1400m) – 7:43pm AEDT
Duchess Of Gossip strips fitter into her second campaign start this week and looms as the one to beat in the Jungle Dawn Classic.
The All American mare ended her last prep with three-consecutive wins in metro company, and she worked home well to fill the minors in the Jungle Mist Classic a fortnight ago.
The 1400m is ideal and she is my best bet on the program.
Suggested Bet: No. 7 Duchess Of Gossip
Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) – 8:20pm AEDT
We’re set for another quality edition of the Winterbottom Stakes, featuring some of WA’s best sprinters and a strong contingent of interstate raiders.
I’ve put The Quokka winner Overpass on top, but check out my full race preview and 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Tips RIGHT HERE.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Overpass
Lexus Of Perth Handicap (1200m) – 8:55pm AEDT
I’m more than happy to put a line through Saloon Bar’s run here last week, and I like that he’s on the quick back-up into the last on Winterbottom Stakes Day.
The Sessions gelding was an eye-catching winner in similar company here in early November, but he was completely blocked when full of running last week and was simply never afforded the opportunity to win.
He’s hard fit and this is very winnable.
Suggested Bet: No. 9 Saloon Bar
