Interstate owners reflect on Group 1 success at Ascot

Darren McAullay’s call of the 2017 Winterbottom Stakes, a race that the owner of prized mare Viddora, Nick Lovett, will never get tired of hearing.

Nick was part of the Llyod Kennewell-prepared sprinter’s Victorian ownership and at Ascot that day to watch her claim the $1 million Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).

“There is nothing like being on course at Ascot for a Group One race day let alone having a runner in the feature race,” he said.

“Coming from the Eastern States, I was told it is a bucket list item, so what a way to tick that box.”

The quality of the race that day has stood the test of time as the years went on, with Viddora beating a star-studded field including Santa Ana Lane who went on to be a five-time Group 1 winner.

Viddora earned over $2.6 million, having success over east before the ownership group ventured to WA to launch their assault on the Winterbottom Stakes.

“The Ascot experience is a great mix of tradition and modern spectacle. The old buildings are a terrific reminder of WA racing’s deep history,” Nick said.

For Nick, there was no better way to celebrate Group 1 success with a quintessential Perth experience – overlooking Cottesloe as the sun sets with a beer.

“None of our ownership group had ever been to Perth, or WA for that matter – we didn’t want to leave, and we won’t be waiting to have another Group 1 winner like Viddora to return – but it would be nice!”

Nominations for the TABtouch-Pinnacles opened last week, with strong numbers and representation from more East Coast raiders.

Recent Everest winner Bella Nipotina is among the nominations, as well as runners from Chris Waller ,Bjorn Baker ,James Cummings ,Gai Waterhouse and a raft of other distinguished East Coast stables.

All major races in the carnival have seen an increase in nominations with the Group 1 Swan Draught-Railway Stakes (1600m) climbing to 108, up from 70 last year.

Since Viddora’s iconic win in the 2017 Winterbottom Stakes the Group 1 has been taken out by a further four interstate runners.

Multiple Group 1 winner Overpass looks to add to that if he continues his form after being one of the 78 nominations for this year’s feature race.