Australia: Hometown hero Elite Street favored in Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes

Ascot Racecourse in Perth, Australia, is home territory for Elite Street, who will be a solid favorite in Saturday’s Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes at six furlongs at that venue.

Elite Street has won 6 of 8 starts at Ascot, including the 2020 Winterbottom Stakes, the 5-year-old gelding’s only victory at the highest level in four starts. In February and March, Elite Street started in three Group 1 races at Melbourne area tracks against the country’s toughest sprinters, but was not a factor.

After two more losses at Ascot and Belmont Racecourse in Perth in May, Elite Street is unbeaten in three sprint stakes at Ascot since mid-October. Brad Rawiller was aboard for those wins and has the mount in the Winterbottom.

Trained by Ascot-based Daniel Morton, Elite Street has won 8 of 16 starts in his career and is part of a field of 16 in the $718,400 Winterbottom Stakes.

Elite Street runs as a stalker and has every chance for a favorable trip from post 10.

Wilchino, also trained by Morton, poses the greatest danger to Elite Street. A 5-year-old mare, Wilchino has won 8 of 11 starts, is a on a five-race winning streak, and will have her stakes debut in the Winterbottom.

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Wilchino, who tends to run near the front, drew the rail, which could be a difficult position to overcome in the largest field she has faced. Wilchino is another runner who adores Ascot, having won 5 of 6 starts at the track, including a six-furlong handicap against males on Nov. 13.

The 4-year-old filly Graceful Girl was second to Elite Street by a little more than a half-length in the Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Ascot on Nov. 13, and is a threat from the back of the field.

Ascot has a nine-race program that begins at 11:05 p.m. Eastern or 8:05 p.m. Pacific on Friday.

Zipping Classic is Boss’ last ride

At Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne on Saturday, Spanish Mission, third in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse on Nov. 2, will be an odds-on favorite to win the Group 2 Zipping Classic at 1 1/2 miles.

A win would be a sentimental victory. Spanish Mission will be the final career mount for Glen Boss, 52. Boss, who has won 90 Group 1 races in Australia, is best known for his success aboard Makybe Diva, who won the Melbourne Cup for three consecutive years from 2003-2005.

Boss rode one race in the United States, finishing last of 14 in the Grade 1 American Oaks at Hollywood Park in 2009 on the New Zealand import Puttanesca.

Spanish Mission was beaten about 4 1/2 lengths by Verry Elleegant in the two-mile Melbourne Cup, his final start for English trainer Andrew Balding and first start in Australia. Spanish Mission, a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred by Noble Mission, has since been sold to a large partnership and transferred to trainer Peter Moody.

Spanish Mission won the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup at York Racecourse in England in May. In the $538,650 Zipping Classic, Spanish Mission is part of a field of nine that includes the 5-year-old Australian-bred gelding Warning, who won the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at 1 5/8 miles at Flemington on Nov. 6.

Caulfield has a nine-race program beginning at 8:35 p.m. Eastern or 5:35 p.m. Pacific on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.