Perth trainer Daniel Morton is giving his mare Dainty Tess a great chance to go one up on race favourite Viddora when they clash again in the Group 1 $1m Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday.
Viddora, above, is the favourite for the 2018 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot in Perth. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The score stands at one a piece with Dainty Tess finishing seventh to Viddora in the 2017 Winterbottom Stakes but the West Australian trained mare was able to turn the tables when Viddora finished second to her in the Group 3 $120,000 Hughes Limousines R N Irwin Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville during the 2018 Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival.
Dainty Tess has won two of her three runs this campaign and Morton is certain that the mare is up to being very competitive in the weight for age Winterbottom Stakes.
“I couldn’t be happier with her,” Morton told The West Australian.
“She’s up to winning a Winterbottom and we’re looking forward to the rematch against Viddora.
“Her work has been first-class. We just need a good barrier and a little luck in running.
“You can’t afford any bad luck in Group 1 races.”
Paul Harvey replaces Chris Parnham who has been aboard Dainty Tess for her three runs at Ascot leading into the Winterbottom Stakes which resulted in a first up win in the Listed $100,000 R.S. Crawford Stakes (1000m) on October 20 followed by a win in the Group 3 $150,000 Prince Of Wales Stakes (1000m) before she finished fourth to Durendal in the Group 3 $150,000 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) on November 17.
Chris Parnham will ride the John McArdle trained I’ll Have A Bit in the Winterbottom Stakes.
Jockey Joe Bowditch, who relocated from Adelaide to Melbourne this year when Lloyd 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.
Betting at Ladbrokes.com.au has Dainty Tess listed as a $15 chance while the Lloyd Kennewell trained Viddora is marked as the $3.20 favourite to win back to back Winterbottom Stakes.
Betting for the 2018 Winterbottom Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.20 Viddora, $6.50 Enticing Star, $7.50 Malaguerra, $8.50 Voodoo Lad, $11 Runson, $14 I’ll Have A Bit, $15 Dainty Tess, $18 Malibu Style, $20 Durendal, $23 Ashlor, $34 Belter, $41 Valour Road, Seannie, $51 Profit Street, $81 Rebel King.
