Group 1 racing takes place in WA as the Perth Carnival’s elite levels continue with the $1.5 million Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.

Overpass is the horse to beat in the 2023 Winterbottom Stakes in WA this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

A quality line-up of sprinters faces off in this year’s Winterbottom field with the latest markets at Ladbrokes led by the autumn’s The Quokka winner Overpass at $3.10.

Bjorn Baker’s smart Vancouver gelding was good here posting a narrow upset over local star Amelia’s Jewel in mid-April to claim the inaugural $4 million The Quokka race at the track and trip.

At his latest he was four lengths back 10^th in the $20 million The Everest (1200m) in Sydney.

Freshened-up since Overpass is now the one to beat back in Perth against an easier line-up.

Three other runners join Overpass at single-figure Winterbottom Stakes odds including the $7 second elect Ripcord.

The Luke Fernie-trained Written By three-year-old is out to break a notable drought of youngster’s in the race with the last of his age to win being Hardrada back in 2002.

The up-and-comer is putting together a nice Ascot track record (5:2-1-1) and comes off a narrow win here from barrier 14 of 14 in the Listed $500,000 Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) on November 18.

He is drawn to get an easier run this weekend in the Group 1 from barrier seven with Clint Johnston-Porter retaining the ride.

Triple Missile ($8.50) in barrier one for Damien Oliver’s penultimate Group 1 ride before retirement and the consistent Oscar’s Fortune ($9) wider out in gate 13 for the ‘Wizard of the West’ Willie Pike round out the single-figure fancies.

The Lindsey Smith-trained Smart Missile six-year-old Triple Missile has a 50% winning strike rate over the 1200m at Ascot and is back west after a solid spring in Melbourne.

Two back he was a length second to Star Patrol in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) before another run down the ‘Straight Six’ at Flemington when sixth in a blanket finish in the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m) a month ago.

Oscor’s Fortune meanwhile is another three-year-old out to beat the older sprinters with the Dion Luciani-trained Rich Enuff gelding having lost just one of his five starts to date.

He posted four straight wins before going down a nostril flare in the Placid Ark, a devastatingly close loss he is out to atone for in the rematch with Ripcord on the weekend.

The others most likely chasing an upset at double-figures include the Lou Luciani-trained Hot Zed ($11) coming off a Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes win and the returning market mover Resortman heavily backed in from $41 to $17.

The Winterbottom Stakes is set to run as Ascot Race 9 at 5:20pm (AWST) on Saturday’s 10-race card.

2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Barriers

Table Credit: Racing Australia.