Winterbottom Stakes Day racing tips & quaddie | December 2, 2023
| What | Winterbottom Stakes Day |
| Where | Ascot Racecourse – 71 Grandstand Rd, Ascot WA 6104 |
| When | Saturday, December 2, 2023 |
| First Race | 12:05pm AWST |
The Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes headlines a massive 10-part card at Ascot Racecourse this weekend for the third day of The Pinnacles. The track is rated a Soft 5, but with warm and dry conditions forecast in the lead-up, it is expected to firm into the perfect Good 4 range by Saturday. The rail has been pushed out to the +8m position, which should favour on-speed runners in the sprint races.
Jungle Dawn Classic Tip: Duchess Of Gossip
Duchess Of Gossip had no luck at all first-up in the Listed Jungle Mist Classic, where she settled three horses back on the rail and had nowhere to go as the field turned for home. William Pike eventually found a gap at the 200m mark, and she let down well, but it was just too big a task. From barrier two, and with the benefit of a run under her belt, Duchess Of Gossip should be able to settle outside the leader and then give a good kick at the home turn to record a well-deserved Listed win.
Jungle Dawn Classic
Race 8 – 
#7 Duchess Of Gossip (2)
4yo Mare | T: Dion Luciani | J: William Pike (55kg)
Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic Tip: Augment
Augment appears to be the clear top pick in the Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic after running credible races behind the likes of Super Smink, Ripcord and Oscar’s Fortune in the Belgravia Stakes and Placid Ark Stakes. In her most recent run, this daughter of Exceed And Excel was heavily backed into favouritism, but she couldn’t go with the boys in the final 200m and finished third, beaten just under a length. With the Simon Miller-trained filly staying in Listed grade but taking on a weaker field, Augment gets a very good chance to claim her third victory.
Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic
Race 7 – 
#5 Augment (3)
3yo Filly | T: Simon Miller | J: Patrick Carbery (54kg)
Best Bet at Ascot: Yonga Lass
William Pike and Yonga Lass will combine for the fifth time this preparation as they seek a fourth win in this Benchmark 66+ over 1500m. Last start, the Grant & Alana Willaims-trained mare burst through a gap in the final 100m to run over the top of Count The Sessions and Demolish to win by half a length over 1400m. This daughter of Universal Ruler is starting to build a very impressive record (9:4-2-0), and now that she steps up to 1500m for the first time, it should suit her down to the ground. From barrier 12, Pike will have to take her to the back of the field, but if she lets down like she did last start, Yonga Lass will be winning again.
Best Bet
Race 2 – 
#9 Yonga Lass (12)
4yo Mare | T: Grant & Alana Williams | J: William Pike (56kg)
Next Best at Ascot: Demolish
We were with Demolish when he was narrowly beaten by Yonga Lass over 1400m last start. After finishing in the placings in both starts this preparation, stepping up to 1800m should suit him much better. This son of Rich Enuff will push forward from barrier 12 and should be able to settle outside the likely leader, Mountain Ash. Steven Parnham has retained the ride on this four-year-old gelding, and if the leaders run the race to suit themselves, Demolish should prove the strongest in the concluding stages.
Next Best
Race 4 – 
#6 Demolish (12)
4yo Gelding | T: Neville Parnham | J: Steven Parnham (55kg)
Best Value at Ascot: Can’t Be Done
Luke Fernie will be seeking back-to-back wins with Can’t Be Done over the 1200m at Ascot after he defeated Street Parade and Rusty Dreams in a race that was run to suit the on-speed galloper. This son of All Too Hard settled behind the tearaway leader last start and was able to take over at the 300m mark and just hold on from the swoopers. With Luke Campbell jumping aboard for this start, we expect him to use his 2kg claim to his advantage and settle on-speed from barrier four before upping the ante on the home turn. If Can’t Be Done gives a strong kick at the top of the home straight, he will prove very hard to run down.
Best Value
Race 10 – 
#6 Can’t Be Done (4)
7yo Gelding | T: Luke Fernie | J: Luke Campbell (a2) (56kg)
Saturday quaddie tips for Ascot races
Ascot quadrella selections
Saturday, December 2, 2023
- 1-3-5-7
- 4-5-7
- 1-8-15-16
- 2-6-9-12