2025 Winterbottom Stakes Day Preview

MAGNIQUE (3) is the one to be with to start the day. 

Simon Miller’s mare has stepped up a level this time in work, winning a Class 3 fresh at Northam where she wasn’t asked to do much until the final furlong, bolting in to win by three-quarters of a length. 

She went around here at Ascot last week over 1200m, leading almost all of the way before she was run down by the impressive and unbeaten, Smooth Chino.  

Back to 1000m on the short backup suits, and she should find this a touch easier from a better gate with Lucy Fiore taking back over in the saddle.  

FOREVER BOY (7) strips fitter second-up coming off a handy effort over the mile a couple of weeks ago. 

The son of Charm Spirit was given a cozy ride in the early stages under Clint Johnston-Porter, eventually shifting to the outside at the top of the straight to charge home strongly into third, beaten just under half a length by the talented Asphalt, who has since gone on to run well at Stakes level last weekend. 

He gets in better off at the weights again compared to Funchal, who ran second in that same race, and you can expect similar tactics from CJP operating from an identical gate.  

Recent hat-trick winner FAST HARRY (8) looks to be the next gelding on the rise for Grant and Alana Williams. 

Willy Pike had him a lovely spot two weeks ago over the track and distance, parking towards the tail from a similar wide gate approaching the turn, then angling into the clear out wide to shift through the gears nicely for a good win. 

To my eye, he was really only warming up over the final 100m, so providing he doesn’t want longer, and he receives some early luck in running again, I think he could go on with the job as he continues to rise through the grades.  

Really keen here on the Peter Fernie-trained DREAMERS NEVER DIE (5).

This smart son to Nicconi has really turned a corner over the last month, bolting in by nearly four lengths at Kalgoorlie to book his spot in this race in what was basically a barrier trial over 1200m.  

This is tougher again and his record here at Ascot isn’t flash, but William Pike only needs to settle handy and track the speed in the early stages to be a serious chance. 

The unbeaten HOT AND HIGH (8) has drawn perfectly for this as she steps out at Ascot for the first time on Saturday. 

The Too Darn Hot filly made it look relatively simple last start at Belmont under Lucy Fiore, looming down the middle of the straight before she was clicked into gear and away she went, winning by nearly three lengths. 

This is a bigger ask up a level, but she looks to have serious change up speed under the hood. In carrying just 53kg, she’s the one to beat. 

MISSISSIPPI DAWN (15) has gone up a nice price for a mare who came charging into the frame to weeks ago over this trip. 

By Pierro, she just missed out on a place after finding herself in restricted room out of the turn but once clear she seemed to really shift through th gears nicely to hand in another honest effort over 1800m. 

She’s been up since August but has enjoyed having her runs spaced, so there’s still some scope for improvement considering she’s also drawn a single digit barrier for the first time since she won at Bunbury four starts back. 

SEPTEMBER BORN (12) warrants a ton of respect stepping back to BM78 ground. 

The Playing God entire contested the Group 3 Asian Beau at the start of the month over the track and distance, a race that never really went to plan in what was always a bit of a litmus test to gauge his chances heading toward a potential Railway Stakes start. 

Trained by Neil Parnham, his previous effort back a level first-up was good without winning, running on well along the inside to grab second behind a very smart horse. 

Whether he’s wanting 1400m again (or even further) is the query, but in carrying just 54.5kg, he looks a key chance. 

Don’t love the gate, but BONJOY (1) has form around some very good horses, which has to count coming back to race against her own sex. 

Jason Miller’s mare has gone toe-to-toe with the likes of Storyville, Rope Them In and Diamond Scene in all three runs this prep, just missing out on a place on each occasion. 

She comes here rock-hard fit carrying top weight and likely needing only a touch of early luck to find cover from a slightly awkward gate. The slight step back from 1500m last time out helps and on recent efforts, a win looks close. 

JOKERS GRIN (2) is a serious sprinter who doesn’t look out of place in this lineup. 

A winner of The Quokka back in April, the son of Maschino has picked up right where he left off claiming the Prince of Wales and the Colonel Reeves in back-to-back succession, bolting in late to beat home Oscar’s Fortune a fortnight ago by half a length. 

His turn of foot was on full display, and his late splits suggest there’s even more to come, especially if he avoids a wide sit in transit this time. 

Patrick Carbery has been responsible for eight of his nine wins thus far, and like the market suggests, he’s the in-form gelding that they all have to beat. 

LADY BOSS (8) gets William Pike again looking to improve on a first-up effort for fourth here over the track and distance a fortnight earlier. 

The Street Boss mare always looked in need of the run off a good break, but she also had excuses when held up down the straight after looking for a passage along the inside. 

Considering that was also her first start for a new stable, she has big scope for further improvement. Alongside an honest record that ahs seen her land outside the money on six occasions, she’s easy to build a case for with the gate offering her every chance coming off the speed.