2024 Winterbottom Stakes Day Tips & Preview

War Matters is worth sticking with after struggling to find running room last start over the mile. 

Darren McAuliffe’s gelding enjoyed a nice patient ride off the speed under Brad Parnham, stoking up down the centre of the straight before being blocked badly approaching the final furlong. 

His previous win over the same track and distance was solid, bolting in late to score over his final few strides – a performance that indicated he might handle further later in his prep. 

Drawn a much better gate this time and carrying only 0.5kg extra, a bounce-back effort wouldn’t surprise if he finds clear air. 

Fly With Caution stuck to the task nicely last start to grab second behind the talented Royal Toronado.  

Apprentice Luke Campbell adopted a spot one off the lead in the early stages, where the pair were eventually only run down over their final few strides in a fast run race. 

A more genuine tempo this time should suit the son of Galah nicely in his second look at 1800m, and from a wide gate, we should see him feature prominently on the speed again. 

Playz With Fire is first-up for Rob Gulberti with William Pike booked to the ride. 

A mare to Playing God, this lightly-raced six-year-old hasn’t won a race in close to a year, but she has found the money in three of her four starts fresh from a spell. 

She hasn’t been asked to do much in a couple of recent trials but could be potentially suited by the wide barrier considering she likes to get back and run on late. 

Invincible Power was an impressive winner of the Regional Championship heat a fortnight ago at Albany, knuckling down from a three-wide position for a diving win right on the line. 

The son of I Am Invincible has appeared much better suited over these shorter sprinter trips this time in work, resuming to find the line for fourth two back carrying 60kg here at Narrogin. 

He still can’t draw an inside gate, but his late speed could make him a major threat if Kyra Yuill has him in the right position again into the straight. 

Generosity is deep into her prep with four runs under her belt for Simon Miller. 

We last saw this daughter to Divine Prophet in the Jungle Mist Classic where she was a little slow away, settling toward the tail and making up enormous ground to run fourth beaten 3.4 lengths by Baby Paris.  

She’s got a fitness edge over a few key rivals back in grade, and from a better gate, she should be settling closer to the speed on this occasion. 

Wind And The Lion looks like he can go on with the task for Team Casey. 

This three-year-old by Written Tycoon exploded with a nice run to win the Placid Ark Stakes second-up a fortnight ago, drawing half a length clear after being forced to make up ground from out wide. 

He’s untested over 1400m but proven now at Stakes level, he looks to have more in the tank based on his latest effort. 

The Boss Lady ticks a few important boxes here third-up over 1400m. 

For starters, her run in the Jungle Mist last start really caught the eye, blowing the start early under Chris Parnham but still managing to let down with a beautiful turn of foot to run second from a long way back to Baby Paris. 

Unlike the favourite, she’s got experience racing over this trip, having placed in the Raconteur Stakes at Belmont earlier in the year. 

Any rain about won’t worry her, and she meets her key rival much better off at the weights carrying 55kg. 

Western Empire has been frustrating to follow at times, but his best is still good enough to threaten the likes of Overpass in the feature. 

The Williams-trained son of Iffraaj ran a super race first-up in a Group 3, overcoming a slow start to finish within a length of Rope Them In from the inside gate. 

He’s drawn wider on this occasion with Pike still aboard, while there’s a long history of horses winning the Winterbottom second-up from a spell. 

If he gets back in the run this time and finds clear air, the pair should be launching late. 

Winning form is good form, and that’s exactly what Miss Skyhigh brings with her to the races. 

Willy Pike got top marks for the ride two weeks ago over the track and distance, settling in the back half before exploding late to put paid to her rivals by 1.7 lengths.  

She clearly found the step back to 1400m right up her alley that day, and providing she’s not wanting longer now, a repeat effort could be on the cards from a similar gate.