Winterbottom Stakes – 2020

Track: Good   Weather: Cloudy

There is a full field of 16 runners for the $1,000,000 Winterbottom Stakes and with the early scratching of Carocapo. the emergency Condor Heroes will get a run. Eleven of the runners had their last start in the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes over 1100m at Ascot on a heavy track two weeks ago. Five of them are four-year-olds, four are five-year-olds, three are six-year-olds, two are nine-year-olds and there is one seven-year-old and one 11-year-old. Three of the runners are mares.

The early favourite is Trekking who followed 4th in The Everest with 2nd in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley. Second favourite is Indian Pacific who has six wins and three places from his nine starts and won the Listed Crawford Stakes first-up from a 12 week break, then came 3rd in the Colonel Reeves. Third favourite is Celebrity Queen who won the Colonel Reeves last start, beating 10 of the other runners in this field.

Stageman ran on strongly to just miss (0.17 length) in the Colonel Reeves, while Valour Road finished 7th after fading in the final 100m. Elite Street has won four in a row but the latest was in a rating 72+ handicap so clearly this is a huge rise in grade, but he has been winning well. Rock Magic was 3rd in this race last year and ran 3rd in the Group 3 Prince Of Wales Stakes then 3.14 lengths 5th in the Colonel Reeves in his two lead-up races. Vital Silver finished 2nd in this race last year and comes from 5th in the Group 3 Northerly Stakes, while Red Can Man ran 2 lengths 4th in the Group 1 Railway Stakes last week and is coming back in distance. All other runners are currently 25 to 1 or longer.

1. Trekking

Started favourite in this race last year and ran 4th. Followed 4th in The Everest with 2nd in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley.

2. Rock Magic

Was 3rd in this race last year and ran 3rd in the Group 3 Prince Of Wales Stakes then 3.14 lengths 5th in the Colonel Reeves in his two lead-up races.

3. Malibu Style

Has been well beaten both runs this time in and hasn’t been able to win in 16 Group attempts

4. Valour Road

Finished 7th in the Colonel Reeves after fading in the final 100m

5. Durendal

Finished 6th in the Colonel Reeves but needs to find more.

6. Vital Silver

Finished 2nd in this race last year and comes from 5th in the Group 3 Northerly Stakes,

7. Red Can Man

Ran 2 lengths 4th in the Group 1 Railway Stakes last week and is coming back in distance.

8. Stageman

Ran on strongly to just miss (0.17 length) in the Colonel Reeves

9. Carocapo  – SCRATCHED

10. Laverrod

Has very good statistics at this track and distance. Rough place chance.

11. Mankind

NOt been going well enough lately.

12. Indian Pacific

Has six wins and three places from his nine starts and won the Listed Crawford Stakes first-up from a 12 week break, then came 3rd in the Colonel Reeves.

13. Elite Street

Has won four in a row but the latest was in a rating 72+ handicap so clearly this is a huge rise in grade, but he has been winning well.

14. Flirtini

Only beat three runners home in the Colonel Reeves but is better than that.

15. Essential Spice

Hasn’t been far away in three starts this campaign and could surprise,

16. Celebrity Queen

Won the Colonel Reeves last start, beating 10 of the other runners in this field.

17. Condor Heroes – 1st Emergency

Will find this too tough.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips
16. Celebrity Queen
1. Trekking
7. Red Can Man
13. Elite Street

Listed Carlyon Stakes 2020 (Moonee Valley 1000m)

Listed Mitchell McKenzie Stakes 2020 (Moonee Valley 1200m)

The track was rated as Good 4.

Scratchings were 9. Carocapo, 10. Laverrod.

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	13. Elite Street
2nd	16. Celebrity Queen	0.3 length
3rd	2. Rock Magic	1.3 lengths
4th	1. Trekking	1.7 lengths