Winterbottom Stakes (Group 1)

ASCOT’S A$1.5 million Winterbottom Stakes over 1,200 metres on Saturday saw a determined Libertad overpower the winner of the Group 1’s past two editions, giving the Warwick Farm-based training duo Annabel and Rob Archibald their first major under the banner of Archibald Racing, which replaced their former iteration of Annabel Neasham Racing in November.

Ridden by Jamie Mott at his first ride in Western Australia, Libertad was perfectly placed on the back of the race-favourite and dual-winner Overpass, who led the nine-horse field.

Swinging into the final bend the Russian Revolution horse got up the inside of Overpass, who drifted off the rail on straightening.

Hard ridden, the pair were at each other for the final furlong, neither gaining a clear advantage. Hitting the line, the margin was a half-head in favour of Libertad, landing a sweet 20/1 bonus for any that had followed in his Champions Stakes fourth behind Giga Kick at his previous start.

Third was the Magnus gelding Rey Magnerio, completing an Eastern States sweep of Perth’s richest Group 1 sprint.

“He had to go to a new level today and he was able to do that. Overpass was fantastic in defeat,” said Jamie Mott. “When Rob and Annabel ring for me to travel for a Group 1, I’m always happy to give it a shot.

“This is our first Group 1 together, so it’s quite special. We’ve had a good relationship for a few years now and they’re incredible people to ride for.”

Purchased for $210,000 from the 2022 Inglis Ready2Race Sale, having been bought earlier that year as a yearling for $40,000 from the Inglis Classic Yearling sale, Libertad has now won five from 17 - with this his first Group 1.

“I thought Libertad’s run in the Champions Sprint was terrific, and just seeing him, I got here on Thursday, this is the best he’s ever paraded,” said Annabel Archibald.

“He’d won a Group 2 and a couple of Group 3s, and we were desperate to get a Group 1 with him. He’s still an entire, so I’m so happy for [owners] Trilogy and there’s plenty of decent owners in him.

“A couple have made the trip over, so we’ll be having a big one tonight.”

THE win of She’s A Hustler in the Group 2 Zipping Classic over 2,400 metres at Caulfield has Grahame Begg aiming high, with the Caulfield Cup firmly on the agenda for the Ace High mare.

Taking up a forward position, a pair back from the head of the race, the win was textbook. Rolling out at the top of the straight off the back of the leaders, jockey Jordan Childs got She’s A Hustler balanced and into her rhythm as she went through her gears.

Despite drifting in touch on the run in, She’s A Hustler gradually overwhelmed Light Infantry Man, defeating the Fast Company gelding by a half-length, with the Irish-bred Etna Rosso, by Decorated Knight, in third. “You have to have those ambitions,” said Begg when asked of the Caulfield Cup. “She’s a beauty, a winning machine. She’s never finished further back than second in 11 [career] starts, with seven wins. How good’s that?

“We may go to Brisbane for one or two runs up there in the winter, something like the Q22 [Group 2] and then back down here to Melbourne. It’s been proven as a good formula the last few years but over a long period of time horses which have competed in Brisbane have come back and raced well in the spring.”

The win also completed a stakes double for Grahame Begg and Jordan Childs, the pair also successful with Ruska Roma in the Listed Twilight Glow Stakes.

THE sire of the Melbourne and Caulfield Cup winner, the Irish-bred St Jean has died just three weeks after the heroics of Half Yours.

St Jean was humanely euthanised after breaking his near-fore following an overnight accident in a paddock he had lived in since 2017. He was the first Victorian stallion to sire a Melbourne Cup winner since 1973, leaving Brackley Park’s Grant Dwyer devastated.

“His death was very untimely as breeders were only starting to recognise what an incredible pedigree this stallion had. Bookings had started to pick up and he was due to cover a mare by Desert King that afternoon, which would have given the same cross as Half Yours.”