There simply isn’t a better race in Perth at any point of the year and we’re set for another excellent edition of the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Sprinters that didn’t quite reach the pinnacle in spring often make their way west for this race and that is definitely the case again this year, but there’s also some genuine stars like Trekking that have been confirmed for a start, as well as a strong local contingent.

We found the quinella in last week’s Railway Stakes and I’m confident of continuing that run of form through the 2019 Winterbottom Stakes tips below.

Suggested Bets

• 5 Units straight out #1 Trekking
• Boxed Trifecta of the selections below

WINTERBOTTOM STAKES – WINNER

No. 1 Trekking

Trekking has gone to another level in 2019 and he can cap his year by being crowned the Winterbottom Stakes winner. The talented son of Street Cry has always been an above-average performer, but really made the step up to the top echelon in winter when winning three of his four campaign starts, including the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap. This time in he’s won the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes and placed in both The Everest and the Redzel Stakes, and he is primed for another huge performance in this. He will take a power of beating.

WINTERBOTTOM STAKES – 2ND

No. 5 Home Of The Brave

I think that there’s every chance we’ll bare witness to a Godolphin quinella in the Winterbottom Stakes as Home Of The Brave’s best form would have him right in the finish. The eight-year-old has mixed his form a little this time, but he has been stepping out in top-class company since resuming and has placed second twice throughout his give appearances, including once behind Brutal in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes. He’s rock-hard fit and with even luck, he’s up to this.

WINTERBOTTOM STAKES – 3RD

No. 9 Endless Drama

For Chris Waller, now Tony Pike-trained sprinter Endless Drama frequently pulls out a big run fresh and could prove big overs at his double-figure Winterbottom Stakes odds. A Group 1 win has so far eluded the son of Lope De Vega, but he is a multiple Group 2 winner and ended a short winter prep third behind Trekking in the Stradbroke. He had two runs in New Zealand in August, including an impressive first-up win in the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate; beating home the likes of Te Akau Shark and Melody Belle. That form is obviously outstanding.

WINTERBOTTOM STAKES – 4TH

No. 7 Viridine

I think that Viridine is just a little below the best sprinters currently going around in Australia, but there’s probably only one of them in this field and I think he can run a cheeky race at a price ($15 at publish). The Poet’s Voice gelding ran a good race to finish fourth in the Schillaci and atoned for a poor run in the Group 2 Linlithgow when a smart winner at Listed level last time out. I can completely understand why James Cummings would want to have a throw at the stumps with this bloke and he is yet another live chance for the Blue Jackets.