Second on two occasions followed by a close fourth at her last three starts, all at Group 1 level, the South Australian-based Viddora (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) heads into Saturday's G1 Winterbottom S. (1200m) at Ascot with the right form lines to score her first elite level win.
Kept fresh this campaign, the 5-year-old mare has only had two starts and after a head-bobbing second to Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign (Aus) (Manhattan Rain {Aus}) in the G1 Moir S. on Sept. 29, the mare stepped up to the 1200m where she finished fourth, beaten two lengths behind Hey Doc (Aus) (Duporth {Aus}), on Oct. 27 in the G1 Manikato S.
Finishing behind Viddora in the Manikato was one of her logical dangers in the Winterbottom in Rock Magic (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), just over a length behind her in seventh.
Having campaigned in the eastern states since his fourth in the Moir S., the Perth-trained 8-year-old finished third in the G2 Schillaci S. on Oct. 14 and as a multiple stakes winner who finished third behind Takedown (Aus) (Stratum {Aus}) in last year's Winterbottom S., the Chris Gangemi-trained runner looks to have a leading chance.
In a great vein of form, winning his last three including a stunning victory in the G3 Colonel Reeves S. (1100m) at Ascot on Nov. 18, the Grant and Alana Williams-trained State Solicitor (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) is likely to start the race favourite. With nine wins from his 12 starts to date, the 5-year-old was beaten only a length when sixth in last year's race, at what was his first attempt at black-type level.
A winner of the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. (1400m) on Oct. 1 at his most recent run, the Anthony Freedman-trained Santa Ana Lane (Aus) (Lope De Vega {Aus}) has been ticking over nicely in an attempt to record back-to-back Group 1 victories and although he has barrier 11 in the 13-horse field, jockey Dean Yendall knows the horse very well, securing victory on him last start.
Sixth in a blanket finish behind State Solicitor in the G3 Colonel Reeve S., Whispering Brook (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) was an outstanding juvenile of her year, winning three consecutive black-type races before heading to the eastern states where a third at Group 1 level was her best. Back to her hometown for her 4-year-old campaign, the mare should be one of the leaders on Saturday, and if able to control the tempo to a degree, she is capable of fighting out the finish.
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