Last year‘s winner Viddora is included in the final field for the 2018 Group 1 $1m Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday.

Viddora, above, is set to defend her title in the 2018 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot in Perth. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Viddora claimed her first Group 1 trophy with an emphatic win in the 2017 Winterbottom Stakes and Caulfield trainer Lloyd Kennewell is confident he has the mare in the same condition as she prepares to defend her title in the fifteen horse field.

“Everything is progressing well,” Kennewell told the Herald Sun.

“She’s been going really well and we’ll tick off the days until Saturday.”

“Go into a Group 1, everything needs to go to according to plan.”

“They don’t give them away. There’s still a fair bit to unfold.

“But if she runs as well as she did last year, she’s going to be hard to beat.”

Jockey Joe Bowditch, who relocated from Adelaide to Melbourne this year when Kennewell made the same move, has been Viddora’s regular rider throughout her career and will be aboard again in Saturday’s weight for age Winterbottom Stakes.

Bowditch has been aboard Viddora for her two Group 1 wins and as well as last year’s Winterbottom Stakes victory, the pair combined for a win in the Group 1 $500,000 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on September 28.

Viddora has had plenty of time to get over her unplaced run on a heavy track when tenth of twelve behind Redzel in the $13m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 13 and will go into Saturday’s feature Ascot Racing Carnival sprint as the one to beat again.

Dual Group 1 winner Malaguerra heads up the fifteen horse Winterbottom Stakes field and heads to Ascot with one recent run under his belt when twelfth in his first run for almost a year in the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on October 26.

Trainer Darren Weir will saddle up Voodoo Lad in the Winterbottom Stakes with Damien Oliver booked to ride and the seven year old is coming off a last start eighth to stablemate Brave Smash in the Maniakto Stakes.

Betting for the 2018 Winterbottom Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3 Viddora, $5.50 Enticing Star, $9 Malaguerra, $10 Runson, Voodoo Lad, $12 I’ll Have A Bit, $14 Dainty Tess, $15 Durendal, $17 Ashlor, $18 Malibu Style, $34 Valour Road, $41 Belter, Profit Street, $61 Seannie, $81 Rebel King. 

Final Field for the 2018 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m)