The Perth Summer Racing Carnival heats up this Saturday with the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot Racecourse. A capacity field of sixteen top sprinters will vie for a share of the lucrative $1.5 million prize money, with all eyes on defending champion Overpass.

Overpass has drawn out wide but remains favourite to defend his title in Saturday’s Winterbottom Stakes in WA. Photo: Steve Hart.

Last year’s victor, the Bjorn Baker-trained Overpass, currently heads the Winterbottom Stakes betting markets at $3.30 through Ladbrokes. The Vancouver gelding is on a mission to become the first horse since Hardrada (2002-03) to win consecutive Winterbottom titles. While drawing the widest barrier (16), history offers some solace – the past six winners, including Graceful Girl from gate 16 in 2021, jumped from double-digit barriers.

Overpass boasts impressive credentials, including two victories in the lucrative $4 million The Quokka at Ascot. He arrives in winning form after a barnstorming win in the Group 3 Sydney Stakes at Randwick back in October. While an eighth-place finish in the Group 1 Champions Sprint at Flemington followed, third-up and back in WA, he looks primed for a strong showing.

Local hero Western Empire, trained by Grant & Alana Williams, presents the most significant threat to Overpass at $3.70 in the Winterbottom Stakes odds online. The evergreen seven-year-old is an Ascot specialist, boasting a record of 13 wins, 6 seconds, and 3 thirds at the track. While winless at the 1200m distance, his recent second-place finish in the Group 3 Colonel Reeves suggests a return to form. With William Pike aboard from gate four, Western Empire shouldn’t be underestimated.

Lady Laguna ($5) trained by Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald is another contender to watch. Ridden by the season’s leading jockey, James McDonald, the mare comes off a strong showing in the Champions Sprint and boasts solid form lines. Maharba ($8) is the final horse at single-figure odds, a four-year-old with impressive 1200m form.

For an each-way bet, Luke Fernie‘s Bravo Centurion ($10) is an intriguing option. The four-year-old is on a six-race winning streak and has proven himself at Ascot and over the 1200m distance. His recent win in the Group 3 Prince of Wales Stakes showcased his ability, making him a potential dark horse in this competitive field.

The 2024 Winterbottom Stakes promises to be a thrilling contest. Can Overpass rewrite history? Or will a new champion emerge from the pack? Don’t miss the action this Saturday at Ascot Racecourse!

2024 Winterbottom Stakes Field

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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