Carbery keen to get back on Jokers Grin in 2025 Winterbottom Stakes

While Patrick Carbery was forced to sit and watch Jokers Grin win without him last start—a moment he admits felt bittersweet—the veteran jockey is thrilled to be reunited with the sprinter for Saturday’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.

A concussion sustained in a Bunbury fall on November 13 sidelined him for nearly two weeks and caused him to miss the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m).

Carbery had ridden Jokers Grin in all 11 of his previous starts—including this year’s $5 million The Quokka (1200m)—and now chases his sixth Group 1 trophy from barrier six.

“I was out for the 12 days, and I’ve had to complete my Cogstate test, which I passed last Thursday,” Carbery said.

“It’s probably no different from any of the other major sports nowadays; it’s just the way things are.

“Sean (O’Donnell) was able to fill in. He didn’t get the keys for long, I got them back pretty quick, but he did a great job on him, and he’s bounced through the run really well.

“It was a mix of emotions that I wasn’t on him, but it was great to see the horse run well and he’d done what we expected him to do.

“It’s not the spot that I want to be in too many times, that’s for sure.”

Jokers Grin has given trainer Bernie Miller two of his three career Group victories, and the middle draw didn’t worry Carbery in the slightest.

“I was expecting 11,” Carbery quipped, recalling The Quokka win from the outside gate.

“It’s just a number, you can’t control it, so you’ve just got to work it out.

“He’s drawn middle of the way, so we’ll just work it out and show everyone what he can do.”

Jokers Grin sits near the top of betting alongside Overpass, who has won the last two Winterbottom Stakes, but Carbery remains wary of the wider field.

“He’s not the only horse in the race,” Carbery said.

“He always runs well here, obviously, and he seems to thrive when he comes to Perth.

“He looks a million dollars, but the horses that have come from over East, they’re no slouches either.

“They’re all being prepared to win it.”

Early markets have Jokers Grin at $2.60, Overpass at $2.90, with Rey Magnerio ($8) and Luana Miss ($9) rounding out the leading chances.

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