Winterbottom Stakes

Winterbottom Stakes

Group One Betting Guide
Date: December 2, 2023
Location: Ascot Racecourse, Perth
Prize Money: $1,500,000
Distance: 1200m

The Winterbottom Stakes, one of only three Group 1 races in Western Australia, is held under weight-for-age conditions and is considered Perth’s premier sprint event.

The showpiece event of the middle weekend of the Perth Summer Carnival, the Winterbottom Stakes is worth $1.5 million and is ran over the 1200m distance at the iconic Ascot racetrack.

The race only achieved Group 1 status in 2011, but was first run in 1952, when Raconteur took it out.

2016 was the first time in the race’s history it was run as a stand-alone group 1 race, after being on the same card as the Railway Stakes for many years.

The move of the Winterbottom Stakes to a standalone feature means Ascot will be the first racecourse in the world to hold three group 1 races worth $1 million or more over three consecutive Saturdays. The third one being the closing event of the Perth Summer Carnival, the Northerly Stakes (formerly Kingston Town Classic).


2023 Winterbottom Stakes betting odds

2022 Winterbottom Stakes Paulele
Paulele takes out the 2022 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot

The 2023 Winterbottom Stakes odds as of December 1 look like this:

  • Overpass – +200
  • Ripcord – +550
  • Oscar’s Fortune – +750
  • Triple Missile – +750
  • Hot Zed – +1000
  • Snowdome – +1300

Complete Winterbottom Stakes odds available at Bet365.


Best Winterbottom Stakes bookmakers

Markets for the Winterbottom Stakes do not typically emerge months and weeks prior to the race being run given the Group 1 calibre horses are pre-occupied on the other side of the country in Melbourne.

Once confirmation of the fields begins to filter in the bookmakers start to open their markets, and once the first Group 1 race of the Ascot season concludes – the Railway Stakes – most bookies will make the Winterbottom Stakes a feature event.

Sportsbet.com.au has made a commitment to group 1 racing in this country, and they had the Winterbottom Stakes as a feature event on their front page before any of the other bookies.

The bookies we trust the most are listed below and we recommend anyone interested in betting on the Winterbottom Stakes to visit any of these sites:

United States Sport Table

Sport Table


Betting on the Winterbottom Stakes

The Winterbottom Stakes is a group 1 race so invariably the top sprinting prospects in the country are going to make the journey west to compete at Ascot.

Since its first running, just three horses have managed to go back-to-back.

La Trice (1970-71), Belinda’s Star (1975-76) and Hardrada (2002-03) achieving the three-peat at Ascot.

Only a further three horses have managed to record more than one win in the race.

Mare Ortensia managed to win two Winterbottom Stakes twice back in 2009 and 2011, Asteroid managed the feat back in 1953 and 1955 and more recently superstar sprinter Buffering saluted in both 2013 and 2015.

No horse has ever won the race more than twice.

A number of lead-up races have been used by successful runners in the Winterbottom Stakes. They include the Birthday Stakes, R.S. Crawford Stakes, Prince of Wales Stakes and Colonel Reeves Stakes

In recent times, Buffering tackled the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic (formerly the Darley Classic) at Flemington on both occasions prior to his Winterbottom Stakes triumphs.


2023 Winterbottom Stakes Final Field

No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
1 Silks
Overpass
Bjorn Baker
Joshua Parr
11
58.5kg
2 Silks
Red Can Man
Steve Wolfe
Paul Harvey
10
58.5kg
3 Silks
Savatoxl
Will Savage
Holly Watson
8
58.5kg
4 Silks
Hot Zed
Lou Luciani
Jason Whiting
2
58.5kg
5 Silks
Resortman
Michael Lane
Brad Rawiller
9
58.5kg
6 Silks
Laverrod
Sean & Jake Casey
Jordan Turner
15
58.5kg
7 Silks
Snowdome
Neville Parnham
Chris Parnham
18
58.5kg
8 Silks
Triple Missile
Lindsey Smith
Damien Oliver
1
58.5kg
9 Silks
Phanta
Chris & Michael Gangemi
Brad Parnham
17
58.5kg
10 Silks
Clemenceau
Chris & Michael Gangemi
Jarrad Noske
14
58.5kg
11 Silks
Man Crush
Luke Fernie
Michael Poy
12
58.5kg
12 Silks
Go Forward
Chris & Michael Gangemi
Laqdar Ramoly
6
58.5kg
13 Silks
My Bella Mae
Dion Luciani
Patrick Carbery
5
56.5kg
14 Silks
Flying Missile
Neville Parnham
Steven Parnham
3
56.5kg
15 Silks
Ripcord
Luke Fernie
Clint Johnston-Porter
7
54.5kg
16 Silks
Oscar’s Fortune
Dion Luciani
William Pike
13
54.5kg
17 Silks
Corn Cob (1E)
Julia Martin
Austin Galati
16
58.5kg
18 Silks
Valency (2E)
Robyn Lockwood
TBC
4
56.5kg

Previous Winterbottom Stakes Fields

Plenty of Group 1 superstars of the West have won the Winterbottom Stakes. Here is what the field look like for the 2022 edition.

  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Silks Rothfire Robert Heathcote Damien Oliver 3 58.5kg
    2 Silks Vilana James Cummings Jamie Kah 12 58.5kg
    3 Silks Paulele James Cummings Ben Melham 16 58.5kg
    4 Silks Elite Street Daniel Morton Brad Rawiller 7 58.5kg
    5 Silks The Astrologist Leon & Troy Corstens William Pike 2 58.5kg
    6 Silks Massimo Chris & Michael Gangemi Brad Parnham 11 58.5kg
    7 Silks Red Can Man Steve Wolfe Shaun McGruddy 17 58.5kg
    8 Silks Stageman Adam Durrant Clint Johnston-Porter 5 58.5kg
    9 Silks Indian Pacific Neville Parnham Paul Harvey 15 58.5kg
    10 Silks Beau Rossa Will Clarken Todd Pannell 8 58.5kg
    11 Silks Hot Zed Lou Luciani Jason Whiting 6 58.5kg
    12 Silks Kissonallforcheeks Daniel Morton Chris Parnham 14 56.5kg
    13 Silks Miss Conteki Simon Miller Patrick Carbery 13 56.5kg
    14 Silks This’ll Testya Mitchell Pateman Lucy Warwick 9 56.5kg
    15 Silks Sniparoochy Stephen Miller Jason Brown 1 56.5kg
    16 Silks My Bella Mae Dion Luciani Steven Parnham 10 51.5kg
    17 Silks Titan Blinders (1E) Chris & Michael Gangemi Shaun O’Donnell 4 58.5kg
  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Silks Rock Magic Chris & Michael Gangemi Jarrad Noske 7 58.5kg
    2 Silks Elite Street Daniel Morton Brad Rawiller 10 58.5kg
    3 Silks Red Can Man Steve Wolfe Shaun McGruddy 11 58.5kg
    4 Silks Laverrod Sean & Jake Casey Jordan Turner 8 58.5kg
    5 Silks Money Matters Chris & Michael Gangemi Craig Staples 6 58.5kg
    6 Silks Indian Pacific Neville Parnham Brad Parnham 12 58.5kg
    7 Silks Outrageous Luke Fernie Lucy Warwick 14 58.5kg
    8 Silks Cup Night Bernie Miller Patrick Carbery 13 58.5kg
    9 Silks Stageman Adam Durrant Clint Johnston-Porter 15 58.5kg
    10 Silks Carocapo Jim Taylor Jason Brown 3 58.5kg
    11 Silks Iseered Iseered Luke Fernie Mitchell Pateman 5 58.5kg
    12 Silks Long Beach Chris & Michael Gangemi Shaun O’Donnell 9 58.5kg
    13 Silks River Beau Bruce Watkins Jason Whiting 17 58.5kg
    14 Silks Flirtini Simon Miller Troy Turner 4 56.5kg
    15 Silks Graceful Girl Grant & Alana Williams William Pike 18 56.5kg
    16 Silks Wilchino Daniel Morton Chris Parnham 1 56.5kg
    17 Silks Triple Missile (1E) Lindsey Smith N/A 16 58.5kg
    18 Silks All Day Session (2E) Ashley Maley N/A 2 58.5kg

2022 Winterbottom Stakes result


1stPaulele ($13.00)
2ndKissonallforcheeks ($4.00)
3rdThis’ll Testya ($2.60)

Recent Winterbottom Stakes winners

  • Having had eight previous starts at Group 1 level, the James Cummings-trained Paulele broke his Group 1 maiden at his ninth start at the highest level. Aided by a breakneck speed out in front throughout the Winterbottom, the entire was aided by an inch-perfect steer from Ben Melham who brought up his first Group 1 win as a hoop since 2020 when partnering Streets Of Avalon to Futurity Stakes success. Paulele unleashed a devastating turn of foot inside the final furlong and managed to pip Kissonallforcheeks on the line in a thrilling finish to the 2022 Winterbottom.
  • Pike was up to his old tricks again at Ascot, steering the Grant & Alana Williams-trained mare to a dominant last-to-first win. Having to overcome barrier 16 in the $1 million sprint, Pike did not waste any time in looking for a position and opted to settle at the tail of the field, saving his mount for one final shot at them. Starting as a $9 chance, the Peters Investments-owned four-year-old quickly put paid to her rivals, winning by three lengths over stablemate Stageman and race favourite Elite Street, who bled during the run and will spend the next three months on the sidelines.
  • With all eyes on the Willie Pike and Trekking to win after making the long trip over just for this race and sitting at $1.75 at time of jumping there were a few stunned faces when Trekking didn’t make the top three but instead it was eighth start ‘Elite Street’ that stole the show jumping at $31 odds and taking out the his first group one race.
  • In a near perfect front-running ride from Luke Currie, Hey Doc wound back the clock and absolutely bolted in the 2019 Winterbottom Stakes by nearly two and a half lengths. He stacked the field up entering the home straight and when asked for an effort by Currie he showed a quick turn of foot, and never looked in danger of getting run down. The Group 1 success was the first for Tony & Calvin McEvoy as a father/son partnership.
  • All the pre-race chatter was about Viddora heading into the 2018 Winterbottom Stakes, but when the champ failed to present a winning threat at any stage the race was wide open. Coming into the straight there was a number of chances but it was Malaguerra, Enticing Star and Voodoo Lad that broke away from the pack. Voodoo Lad stormed over the top of them in the shadows of the post to record a famous win for Darren Wier and Damien Oliver.
  • In 2017 there were few horses that exemplified the “always a bridesmaid” tag more than Viddora in G1 events. Prior to taking part in the Winterbottom Viddora had two G1 second placings and a fourth placed finish in the Manikato Stakes. That all changed in December. Getting a beautiful run in transit in the mid-division the South Australian native shot to the front at the 200m mark and strode clear to record a powerful win. It proved to be a penny drop moment for Viddora, which has since gone on to win G1 events in both South Australia and Victoria.
  • What a marvelous victory for Takedown and a jubilant trainer Gary Moore, who trained his first Australian group one winner in this race. Takedown, paying $9, won by a neck from Sheidel ($8.50) and Rock Magic ($13). Pre-race favourite Terravista, as short as $3.50 on the TAB, was well back in the field after failing to run on despite being in a good position. Read a full report.
  • Buffering came across to Perth harbouring ambitions of becoming just the six horse to win the Winterbottom Stakes more than once and he did exactly that. Under the urgings of Damian Browne, Buffering surged to the front and held the entire field at bay to record his second Winterbottom win as the $2.50 favourite.
  • Home town hero Magnifisio repelled the interstate imports as a $7.50 outsider to register her first and only Group 1 win in a tightly contested finish to the race. The WA star held off Waterman’s Bay both in the run to the line and in the Stewards Room after. While second place is now trained in Melbourne, the top four in the Winterbottom Stakes are all regarded as WA horses.
  • It was that star Buffering again, this time recording his first Winterbottom Stakes win. Fresh off a Darley Classic success in Melbourne, Buffering made the trip across the Nullarbor looking to win a second Group 1 title in a month but the Queenslander faced a battle from Victorian Moment Of Change who sprouted wings late in the race. Buffering eventually got the win in a photo finish.

Winterbottom Stakes past winners list

Winterbottom Stakes Past Winners
Year Horse Jockey Trainer
2022 Paulele Ben Melham James Cummings
2021 Gracefull Girl William Pike Grant & Alana Williams
2020 Elite Street Brad Rawiller Daniel Morton
2019 Hey Doc Luke Currie Tony & Calvin McEvoy
2018 Voodoo Lad Damien Oliver Darren Weir
2017 Viddora Joe Bowditch Lloyd Kennewell
2016 Takedown Tim Clark Gary Moore
2015 Buffering Damian Browne Robert Heathcote
2014 Magnifisio Jason Brown Jim Taylor
2013 Buffering Damian Browne Robert Heathcote
2012 Barakey Jason Brown Jim Taylor
2011 Ortensia Craig Williams Paul Messara
2010 Hadabeclorka William Pike Brent Larsson
2009 Ortensia Craig Williams Tony Noonan
2008 Takeover Target Jay Ford Joe Janiak
2007 Glory Hunter Lucas Camilleri Lindsey Smith
2006 Marasco Damien Oliver Fred Kersley
2005 Miss Andretti Kevin Forrester David Mueller
2004 Ellicorsam William Pike Sharon Miller
2003 Hardrada Jason Whiting Lou Luciani
2002 Hardrada Jason Whiting Lou Luciani
2001 Fair Alert Alana Williams Ray Sweetman
2000 Noble Sky Peter Knuckey John Price

Winterbottom Stakes Past Winners Pre 2000

Winterbottom StakesPast Winners Pre 2000
Year Horse
1999 Double Blue
1998 Bradson
1997 Cranky Tikit
1996 French Sound
1995 Jacks Or Better
1994 Petite Amour
1993 Sir Tinka
1992 Barrosa Boy
1991 M’Lady’s Jewel
1990 Century God
1989 Carry A Smile
1988 Sky Filou
1987 Placid Ark
1986 Fimiston
1985 Jungle Mist
1984 Casshoney
1983 Hanging In
1982 Nitro Lad
1981 Soldier Of Fortune
1980 Scarlet Gem
1979 Asian Beau
1978 Marjoleo
1977 Romantic Dream
1976 Belinda’s Star
1975 Belinda’s Star
1974 My Friend Paul
1973 Starglow
1972 Acello
1971 La Trice
1970 La Trice
1969 Sherolythe
1968 Torecan
1967 Railway Boy
1966 Aquitania
1965 Watersan
1964 Copper Son
1963 Big Bob
1962 Nicopolis
1961 Coco
1960 On Guard
1959 Young Filipino
1958 Bebe Grande
1957 Fairflow
1956 Mcharry
1955 Asteroid
1954 Chestnut Lady
1953 Asteroid
1952 Raconteur

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