Races

Runner by Runner: Winterbottom Stakes

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

1. Overpass (58.5kg)

Trainer: Bjorn Baker
Jockey: Joshua Parr
Barrier: 3

We’re all familiar with Overpass and how good he has been in Western Australia over five separate appearances so let’s break them down: 2023 Quokka – First-up (154 days between runs and 2x trials), 2023 Winterbottom – second-up (49 days between runs and 1x trial in between), 2024 Quokka – first-up (140 days between runs and 1x trial), 2024 Winterbottom – third-up (21 days between runs) and then 2025 Quokka defeat second-up (21 days between runs). In the 2025 Winterbottom he will follow the 2023 profile – Everest – trial – 42 days between runs on the fresh side and considering he only finished 1.5L behind the world’s best sprinter Kay Ying Rising, Tempted and Jimmysstar you’d be brave to suggest that he can’t win a third Winterbottom and take his earnings towards a staggering $13,000,000.

2. Jokers Grin (58.5kg)

Trainer: Stephen Miller
Jockey: Patrick Carbery
Barrier: 6

Became a household name by becoming the first Western Australian horse to win the Quokka when he beat Headwall, Generosity, Magnificent Andy and Overpass in April. Since then the rapidly rising cult hero has added a Group 3 Prince of Wales (WFA 1000) and Group 3 Colonel Reeves (SWP 1100) to his CV and now boasts 9 wins from 12 outings and is the highest rated horse in the State at m115 (penalty-less for both wins this campaign). He is beating the local horses in neutral but as Bernie Miller said post-race he will still need to elevate again to complete the 2025 Quokka – Winterbottom Stakes double. His best mate Pat Carbery returns from a concussion set back and a sea-breeze will help him launch his run down the centre of the track at Ascot on Saturday. Interstate horses have won 8 of the last 10 Winterbottom Stakes – enter the Joker.

3. Oscar’s Fortune (58.5kg)

Trainer: Dion Luciani
Jockey: Chris Parnham
Barrier: 5

Ran second to Overpass in the 2023 Winterbottom as a 3 year old at WFA (54.5kg) and then in his next preparation beat home Amelia’s Jewel to win the Roma Cup before finishing third to Overpass and Amelia’s Jewel in the 2023 Quokka (56.5kg). After that run he went travelling: to South Australia for a Goodwood (beaten 2L Benedetta) and then to Victoria for a Schillaci (second to Bellatrix Star) and then well below par runs in the McEwen, Century and Meteorite Stakes. After a spell he resumed in Listed Company and then BM100 races and still looked all at sea, being beaten margins each time. Back to WA he came and Dion Luciani has been able to revive his career with back to back minors behind Joker’s Grin. He has had minor excuses in both outings and is going well enough to track Overpass and run a cheeky race at odds.

4. Ray Magnerio (58.5kg)

Trainer: Robbie Griffiths
Jockey: William Pike
Barrier: 8

Has improved season on season and really only started to emerge at the top level as a 5 year old when winning the Listed Welcome Stakes (1200 – Handicap) at Flemington in November 2024 and then the Group Two Rubiton Stakes (1100 – SWP) in February 2025. This preparation’s win in the Group Two Caulfield Sprint (1000 – Handicap) was sharp at Caulfield but you probably don’t exactly recognise a few of the names in the beaten brigade: Geegees Mistruth (since third in the Group 3 Rising Fast) , Zealously and Arabian Summer (since third in the Group 3 Ichiban Sprint) and then he was a beaten favourite at Listed Level behind Stokke and Major Share in the Century Stakes, with rider Jye McNeil reporting that in his opinion the horse peaked on the run regardless of being held up and having to alter course. Pike jumps off Oscar’s Fortune to side up with Reg Magnerio and no doubt the theory is: ‘I need something that can beat Joker’s Grin and that’s not a WA horse’. Sit and sprint horse, sit and sprint rider. Dangerous with the right run.

5. Rope Them In (58.5kg)

Trainer: Steve Wolfe
Jockey: Shaun McGruddy
Barrier: 10

Is a better 5 year old than he was at 4. If you agree with statement then he’s a massive Top 4 Player in the Winterbottom because in 2024 he finished 2L off Overpass and Maharba in fourth off the back of a Colonel Reeves win and in 2025 he has won the Crawford and then finished a monstrous second under 61kg to subsequent Railway Stakes winner Watch Me Rock and beat home Carbine Club winner (and Northerly Stakes fancy) Cosmic Crusader. Steve Wolfe had the choice of Railway or Winterbottom and has chosen Winterbottom and deliberately went to the Asian Beau so that he could attack this race fresh 4 weeks between runs. He is horse who has had his issues but when they’ve got him right, which at the minute they clearly do, he’s got a massive motor and can match it with the best. Can’t be discounted.

6. Libertad (58.5kg)

Trainer: Annabel & Rob Archibald
Jockey: Jamie Mott
Barrier: 2

Went two from two undefeated as a juvenile including winning the Group 3 Widden Kindergarten Stakes (1100) at Royal Randwick. As a 3 year old he returned in the Group Three San Domenico Stakes (1100 – SWP) and remained undefeated going three from three. His next feature win came eight starts later for Winterbottom Rider Jamie Mott in the Group Two Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm (1200 – WFA) in May 2025. He has had three runs this campaign, fourth in the Sydney Stakes behind Rothfire, Iowna Merc and With Your Blessing, seventh in the Rising Fast and most recently fourth in the VRC Sprint behind Giga Kick, Magic Time and Joliestar finishing 1L in front of Benedetta. Interesting to note the SP Profiles from the VRC Sprint between the pair: Benedetta $19 vs Libertad $81.

7. Man Crush (58.5kg)

Trainer: Luke Fernie
Jockey: Ms Holly Watson
Barrier: 7

Has been a ripper for connections over the years winning a Crystal Slipper as a 2 year old, Magic Millions as a 3 year old as well as a Miss Andretti Stakes in his later years but ultimately that’s his level – Listed/Group 3 type races. He has placings in the Newmarket (Listed 1200), Belgravia (Listed 1200), Prince of Wales (Group 3 1000), Beaufine (Listed 1000), H.G Bolton (Listed 1200), Scenic Blast (Listed 1200), Pinjarra Classic (Listed 1300) and clearly his best run of the last 12 months was in the inaugural running of the $1,000,000 Golden Saddle at WFA in Kalgoorlie when finishing third to Magnificent Andy and Yonga Lass when attacking the line from an unfamiliar position in running after settling rearwards. He tries hard Man Crush but he isn’t a Winterbottom horse – jumps 150-1+.

8. Spacewalk (58.5kg)

Trainer: Grant & Alana Williams
Jockey: Ms Lucy Fiore
Barrier: 1

Headed to WA as the winner of the Group 3 Rising Fast back in 2023 when he was trained by James Cummings, ridden by James McDonald and owned/raced by Godolphin. Acquired in 2025 by Australian Bloodstock and transferred to Grant & Alana Williams he has only been seen once when jumping a $16 chance in the Colonel Reeves and enduring a tough passage when caught three wide the trip. Finished nearly 5L off Winterbottom rivals Jokers Grin, Oscar’s Fortune and Repossession and it’s hard to see him turning the tables on any of that trio, even with a more economical run in transit, and even less likely to see him breaking the now 2 year losing sequence on Saturday.

9. Repossession (58.5kg)

Trainer: Chris & Michael Gangemi
Jockey: Brad Parnham
Barrier: 4

Showed his class when winning the Placid Ark Prelude this time last year and then finished 1L off them in fourth in the Placid Ark, but really came of age as a late season 3 year old when beating the older horses down the 1000m straight to win the Listed Beaufine. When you go back and assess that vs what he’s racing now – it’s lengths inferior – only the 54kg minimum he beat Toropa (Mares Series), Sinful Living (ratings horse), Final Siren (Listed type) and Puli (retired?). He has run honest minors behind local pair Joker’s Grin and Oscar’s Fortune in both the Prince of Wales and Colonel Reeves Stakes but he has drawn barrier 2 and had every chance in both of those races and been beaten over 2L on each occasion. He’ll win his fair share of races over the coming seasons, but they’ll be in Group 3 / Listed company rather than against these. Sits in the 6th – 8th type and 30/40-1 bracket on paper.

10. Benedetta (56.5kg)

Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Jockey: Daniel Stackhouse
Barrier: 9

Travelling 6 year old mare from the all conquering yard of Ciaron Maher who had a set of shades added to her gear in the Group One Goodwood (1200 – SWP) at Morphettville in May 2024 when she carried 55kg and beat Stretan Angel and Climbing Star. She also beat Climbing Star a month earlier that year when taking out the Group 3 Irwin Stakes (1200 – SWP) and has Victorian Feature wins to her name in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200 – SWP) at Caulfield and the Inglis Sprint (1200 – 3yo SWP) at Flemington both in 2023. She’s a Group One winner who is also 3x Group One Placed (William Reid, Lightning and Sangster) and comes to WA third-up having been beaten 4.2L in a Schillaci and 3L in a VRC Sprint, both at the hands of Giga Kick. They’ve made gear changes at 7 of her last 10 outings and when you go through her form it seems quite clear – she’s best in shades and they’re staying on for the Winterbottom.

11. Luana Miss (51.5kg)

Trainer: Trevor Andrews
Jockey: Shaun O’Donnell
Barrier: 11

Is the X-Factor runner in the 2025 Winterbottom Stakes. With the race being run in November she gets in with 51.5kg as a 3 year old filly at WFA, so that’s a 1kg bonus compared to if the race was run 7 days later on 6 December, however, it’s still a massive ask for her to measure up against the big, imposing, older sprinters. She’s a tiny little pocket rocket who can explode over a furlong when asked to go but in the hustle and bustle of a Winterbottom Stakes will she: A) cope with being knocked around by the bigger bodies; and B) be able to absorb the high-speed pressure set by Overpass? What she desperately needed at the barrier draw was an inside gate to be tucked away and ridden for luck – she didn’t get it.

SELECTION: OVERPASS

While the entirety of WA cheers for our cult hero Joker’s Grin it looks like Overpass is nearly back to his absolute best. Finishing 1.5L off Ka Ying Rising in the Everest and then a powerful and sharp piece of work at Breakfast with the Stars on Tuesday morning at Ascot under Josh Parr who made the trip over just to ride him suggest he’s going to be very hard to run down. There doesn’t look to be a breeze horse on paper and if he’s allowed to set his own tempo without any pressure then he’ll be freewheeling into the corner.

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