Libertad in West chasing elusive G1 in the 2025 Winterbottom Stakes
Annabel and Rob Archibald have taken a positive sign from Jamie Mott’s booking, with the rider choosing Libertad in the Group One Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) over a strong set of opportunities at Caulfield.
Mott will miss Zipping Classic Day—featuring seven stakes races—to travel to Perth and reunite with Libertad in Saturday’s Ascot sprint.
It will be the experienced jockey’s fifth time aboard the entire, having partnered him to Group 2 glory in the Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm earlier this year.
“Jamie Mott is going to fly over and ride him. He rode him a couple of starts ago, and he won the Victory Stakes on him,” Annabel Archibald said.
“It gives you a bit of confidence.”
Libertad’s spring has been strong without a win, kicking off with a narrow fourth behind Rothfire in the Sydney Stakes (1200m).
He then ventured to Flemington for the Rising Fast Stakes (1200m), where he finished midfield behind Caballus, before turning in a top-level run when less than two lengths from Giga Kick in the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) on Champions Day.
According to Archibald, the camp deliberately sent Libertad across to Perth early in the month to settle in, travelling with stablemate Depth Of Character, who endured a tough wide trip in the Railway Stakes (1600m).
Libertad, by contrast, has drawn ideally in barrier two, parked inside two-time Winterbottom winner and equal favourite Overpass.
Throughout his career, Libertad has built a strong stakes record, winning the Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) as a juvenile, the San Domenico Stakes (1100m) as a three-year-old and the Victory Stakes as an older horse.
Archibald hopes Saturday’s feature might finally add a Group 1 to that résumé.
“He ran fourth in the Champions Sprint the other day. He has won two Group Threes and a Group Two during his career. We’re missing a Group One so this might be it,” she said.
If you’re betting on the Winterbottom Stakes, make sure you compare markets and bonuses at the best Australian betting sites before you bet.
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