Viddora Knocking on the Door of a Group 1 Scalp

Posted on November 28, 2017 | Posted by Julio Santarelli

South Australian mare Viddora heads west in search of an elusive Group 1 scalp.

The Lloyd Kennewell-trained five-year-old is bursting to break through at the elite level after going desperately close in the past year.

In May on home soil Viddora ran second to Secret Agenda in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes over 1200m at Morphettville.

Four months later at Moonee Valley she was narrowly beaten by She Will Reign when a luckless second in the Moir Stakes (1000m).

She then finished fourth behind Hey Doc at her previous start in the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 27.

Kennewell said Viddora, closing in on one million dollars in prize money, has been knocking on the door of a major win and gets her chance in Perth.

“I think she is the best of the interstaters coming across and I have bright expectations,” Kennewell said.

“This is one of the races I have targeted and to my way of thinking she has ticked all the right boxes.

“She has proved herself against Australia’s best sprinters and has been unlucky not to have broken through.

“She has settled in really well and I really think she deserves to have a Group 1 next to her name.”

Viddora, a daughter of I Am Invincible, has built a record of six wins and seven placings from 22 starts, but has failed in six attempts at 1200m.

Kennewell laughed off any concern she might vulnerable over the Winterbottom distance.

“Early on in her career she had little issues which might have affected her, but she is coming off the Manikato where she was unlucky,” Kennewell said.

“Joe Bowditch hopped on the back of Vega Magic who stopped in front of her when she should have been out and moving.

“If not for bad luck in a pretty hot edition of the Manikato she would probably have run second or third.

“There is no issue with her running out a strong 1200m.”

Boom local sprinter State Solicitor is the $3.20 favourite for the Winterbottom, ahead of Viddora at $4.00.

“I don’t really have a handle on all the local horses,” Kennewell said.

“But you have to respect them because anything can happen.

“You just need luck to go your way in a big race.”