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Winterbottom Stakes Tips - Will Empire rule in Ascot Group 1?

Alex Marsh

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Last updated: 27 Nov 2024

Alex Marsh 27 Nov 2024

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Overpass seeks second win in Winterbottom Stakes
Western Empire, Maharba, Rockin' Rupert are top picks
Western Empire shows promising form and is the value

Expired

Maharba (black & orange) will contest the Winterbottom Stakes third-up. (Getty)

The Winterbottom Stakes takes place at Ascot on Saturday, November, with Overpass bidding to win the Perth Summer Racing Carnival sprint for the second year.

Overpass won 12 months ago and heads the market for the 2024 Winterbottom Stakes. Is there value in taking on the favourite?

2024 Winterbottom Stakes Tips

Best Bet - Western Empire

He's an interesting runner, with the seven-year-old focusing on shorter distances this campaign and while he was a beaten fav, the gelding was still good on return in the Colonel Reeves Stakes

The 2021 Railway Stakes winner was a stylish second-up winner last prep and the Williams stable have focused on the Winterbottom Stakes and the Gold Rush as the target races this time in.

Western Empire has drawn ideally in barrier four, as he can stay off the rails given he has as much speed as those to his inside, while Overpass and Bravo Centurion will be working early from wide gates.

It's been a decent turnaround since rejoining the Williams yard, as the gelding was off the boil after showing so much promise early and he's got the class despite 1200m being a little on the short side.

Next Best Bet - Maharba

Interstate horses have won 11 of the last 16 running's of the Winterbottom Stakes and Maharba is one of just three visitors who has accepted for the 2024 edition of the Perth sprint feature.

Grahame Begg is as astute as they come and while Group 1 action has ended for the year in the eastern states, there were other options for this four-year-old (Meteorite and Pakenham slot race).

Maharba was against the track pattern when outperforming a 50/1 quote on return at Caulfield and he bounced off that to salute on Derby Day (not in the best ground there either).

Regular rider Jordan Childs travels west for this key engagement and from barrier six aboard a galloper who is tactically versatile, the pair can settle forward of midfield with cover.

Value Bet - Rockin' Rupert

The early Winterbottom Stakes market has the Colonel Reeves Stakes as the main local form reference and with that in mind, the bolters odds for Rockin' Rupert is a little surpising.

Aside from Western Empire, the six-year-old has gone as well any contender coming from that 1100m lead-up race, where he only got warm late after being held-up at key stages.

Rockin' Rupert contested that November 16 Group 3 first-up off only one trial and with his last four victories all being recorded over six furlongs, he's suited up in distance on Saturday.

The gelding has been in career best form this year, with three wins from five starts last campaign and while he drifted back early via the recent return tilt, he's capable of settling closer.

Verdict

Winterbottom Stakes

Our tips for the 2024 Winterbottom Stakes are:

Western Empire

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@19/5 - 3 Units

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Maharba

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@17/2 - 2 Units

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Rockin' Rupert

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