Tender footed sprinter Malibu Style is ready to grab the limelight in Saturday’s Group 1 $1m Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in Perth.
Malibu Style, above, is set to run in the 2018 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot in Perth. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Malibu Style had suffered from hoof problems all through his career and Perth trainer Neville Parnham even campaigned the seven year old in Melbourne over the last two years to escape the hard tracks in Western Australia.
Parnham has reported that Maibu Style’s feet are in good condition and the gelding has returned to Perth a winner after taking out the Listed $120,000 Doveton Stakes (1000m) at Sandown on November 17.
“Special shoeing and management have seen marked improvement in his hooves,” Parnham told The West Australian.
“He’s working strongly and is not hampered at all.”
“He had come through a lengthy Melbourne campaign before he started in the race last year,” Parnham said.
“This time, he’s had only three races and is still on the way up.”
Malibu Style should get a nice run from barrier six in the fifteen horse field with Steven Parnham in the saddle and Neville Parnham is hoping for a better result this year after the gelding failed to beat a runner home when twelfth behind Viddora in last year’s Winterbottom Stakes.
The Lloyd Kennewell trained Viddora is the $2.70 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au to win back to back Winterbottom Stakes while Malibu Style is marked as a $15 chance.
