The favourites in both feature races on Ascot’s Super Saturday meeting have drawn perfectly.
Ortensia, $2.30, has drawn barrier two for the $500,000 Group I Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in a field of 12.
Ranger $3.60, has drawn six in the $1m Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) in a field of 18.
Ortensia drew barrier five when she won the 2009 Winterbottom when under the care of Tony Noonan.
The classy mare is aiming to gain her first Group 1 victory after being disqualified when passing the post first in Group I Galaxy of 2010 before returning a positive swab blamed on contaminated feed.
She bounced back to her best with an easy win for new trainer Paul Messara when winning the Listed Mumm Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on November 3.
“We knew when she was right, she would race well,” Messara said of Ortensia’s first-up win.
“She’s won the race (Winterbottom) before and has the same jockey (Craig Williams) and let’s hope she can do it again.
“She traveled well, better than most of the others.
“She’s quite a seasoned veteran in terms of travel, having been to Hong Kong, Brisbane and Melbourne.”
The Peter Snowden-trained Rarefied ($6), who missed 18 months of racing due to a tendon injury, drew barrier seven.
It is the same draw as when he finished second to Sister Madly last start at Flemington in the Group 2 Salinger Stakes (1200m) on October 29.
“He’ll be a big improver on Saturday,” Snowden said.
“He’s had some issues but we’ve finally got him right.
“The draw wasn’t important.
“He can race either way (back or forward) and ideally he would be midfield.
“ I love the track and think it will suit him.”
Rarefied will be Darley’s first runner in Perth.
The best local chances weren’t so fortunate with the draw.
With Grand Nirvana ($8) in gate 10, Kid Choisir ($8 in gate 13) and All Friared Up ($8.50 in gate 12).
Ranger’s good draw was further helped with the poor alley of second favourite Luckygray ($6) who drew 14.
Bob Peters, the owner of Ranger, was happy with the draw.
He’s a nice horse, he’s surprised everyone I think, he was a bit unlucky that he didn’t get a start in last year’s Railway,” he said.
Ranger will come into 12 if the emergencies Our Ol’ Fella and Ringmeister are withdrawn.
Kerrin McEvoy has picked up the ride on talented Kiwi He’s Remarkable ($7.50) who drew nicely in gate one.
Trainer Roger James will be putting faith in his jockey.
“He was keen to come over and ride him and I was rapt that he was able to commit,” James said.
“ He’s a professional, he does his homework, he knows the course, he knows more about it than what I do, so I’ll be leaving it up to him on race day. “
He’s Remarkable is the same price as Cox Plate flop Playing God who has drawn gate nine.
Trainer Mark Webb says Avienus ($11), who has drawn 10 is ready for Saturday after travel sickness last week.
“She really has bounced back,” he said
“ She had an awful plane trip, but she’s done well
“She has worked good, she’s a tough mare and we are pleased to have a good rider (Craig Williams) on board.“
BURSWOOD-WINTERBOTTOM STAKES
Group I – 3 YEARS OLD & UPWARDS
Of: $500,000 (and trophies valued at $5,000); 1st: $305,000 (inc. trophies); 2nd: $100,000; 3rd: $45,000; 4th: $20,000; 5th: $12,500; 6th: $7,500; 7th: $7,500; 8th: $7,500
| No. | Horse | Br | Wgt | Rider | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GRAND NIRVANA | 10 | 58.5 | PETER HALL | FRED KERSLEY |
| 2 | HADABECLORKA | 9 | 58.5 | GLENN SMITH | BRENT LARSSON |
| 3 | ELLIOTTO | 1 | 58.5 | BRAD PARNHAM | NEVILLE PARNHAM |
| 4 | WERD | 6 | 58.5 | CRAIG STAPLES | CHRIS GANGEMI |
| 5 | KID CHOISIR | 13 | 58.5 | PAUL HARVEY | ALLEN MC NAMARA |
| 6 | EGO’S DARE | 5 | 58.5 | SHAUN O’DONNELL | GRANT WILLIAMS |
| 7 | RAREFIED | 7 | 58.5 | KERRIN MC EVOY | PETER SNOWDEN |
| 8 | THE ENTOURAGE | 11 | 58.5 | CAMPBELL MC CALLUM | CHRIS GANGEMI |
| 9 | ELUSIVE TOUCH | 14 | 58.5 | PETER KNUCKEY | SHANE EDWARDS |
| 10 | MORANT | 4 | 58.5 | WILLIAM PIKE | ROSS & CLINT PRICE |
| 11 | ORTENSIA | 2 | 56.5 | CRAIG WILLIAMS | PAUL MESSARA |
| 12 | FOR YOUR EYES ONLY | 8 | 56.5 | TROY TURNER | PAUL JORDAN |
| 13 | ALL FRIARED UP | 12 | 56.5 | JASON WHITING | STAN BATES |
| 14 | AVANTE | 3 | 56.5 | KYRA YUILL | GRANT WILLIAMS |
CARLTON DRAUGHT-RAILWAY STAKES
Group I – 3 YEARS OLD & UPWARDS
Of: $1,000,000 (and trophies valued at $15,400); 1st: $627,900 (inc. trophies); 2nd: $200,000; 3rd: $90,000; 4th: $40,000; 5th: $20,000; 6th: $12,500; 7th: $12,500; 8th: $12,500
1600 Metres Minimum 53 kg
| No. | Horse | Br | Wgt | Rider | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PLAYING GOD | 9 | 57 | STEVEN PARNHAM | NEVILLE PARNHAM |
| 2 | WARATAH’S SECRET | 3 | 57 | PAUL HARVEY | DAVID HARRISON |
| 3 | RANGER | 6 | 56 | WILLIAM PIKE | GRANT WILLIAMS |
| 4 | KING KOOL KAT | 8 | 55 | DUNCAN MILLER | IAN GLADING |
| 5 | LORDS RANSOM | 4 | 54 | BRAD PARNHAM | GRANT WILLIAMS |
| 6 | AVIENUS | 10 | 53 | CRAIG WILLIAMS | MARK WEBB |
| 7 | BATTLE EMBLEM | 11 | 53 | KYRA YUILL | GRANT WILLIAMS |
| 8 | BIG TED | 16 | 53 | MARCO CHUI | IVAN HAGGERTY |
| 9 | HE’S REMARKABLE(NZ) | 1 | 53 | KERRIN MC EVOY | ROGER JAMES |
| 10 | KINCAPLE(NZ) | 15 | 53 | TROY TURNER | MARK B. REED |
| 11 | LUCKYGRAY | 14 | 53 | SHAUN O’DONNELL | GINO POLETTI |
| 12 | MEGA STEEL | 17 | 53 | JARRAD NOSKE | BRUCE MC CLUNE |
| 13 | ROCKY RANGE | 13 | 53 | SHAUN MEERES | ALAN MATHEWS |
| 14 | SPACECRAFT | 12 | 53 | PETER KNUCKEY | DAVID HAYES |
| 15 | TRANQUILITY | 18 | 53 | JASON WHITING | GRANT WILLIAMS |
| 16 | WESTRIVER KEVYDONN | 2 | 53 | PATRICK CARBERY | PAIGE KENNEY |
| 17e | OUR OL’ FELLA | 7 | 53 | SHAUN MC GRUDDY | STEVE WOLFE |
| 18e | RINGMEISTER | 5 | 53 | LINDSEY SMITH |
