Get ready for Western Australia’s most thrilling sprint race, the prestigious Group 1 $1.5 million Winterbottom Stakes, set to electrify Ascot this week. A fiercely competitive field will battle it out for glory, with past champions such as Buffering (2013 & 2015), Takeover Target (2008), Miss Andretti (2005), and last year’s standout winner, Overpass, all leaving their mark on this iconic race. Overpass, trained by Bjorn Baker and ridden by Josh Parr, produced a dominant victory last year and returns to Ascot after also claiming The Quokka in April, eager to defend his crown.
But the competition will be fierce, with a strong local contingent led by the talented Western Empire, trained by the powerhouse duo of Grant & Alana Williams and piloted by the legendary William Pike, the Wizard of the West. Adding to the excitement, Rope Them In, trained by Steve Wolfe and ridden by Shaun McGruddy, comes off an impressive win in the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes, making him one to watch.
Expect a showdown as the finest sprinters from the West take on a formidable line-up of interstate raiders, who have an outstanding record in this race. Stay ahead of the action with exclusive trackwork interviews, giving you the inside scoop on how the contenders are preparing for this high-stakes battle.
