Fresh from Port Lockroy taking out the Railway Stakes (1600m) on Saturday, the Annabel Neasham-Rob Archibald training operation are quietly confident of securing a second Group 1 victory in the space of seven days in Perth this weekend.
Neasham and Archibald will saddle up Lady Laguna in the Winterbottom Stakes, optimistic she can bounce back after her disappointing 10th behind stable mate Sunshine In Paris in the Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington last start.
In a boost, the mare will have James Mcdonald for company, the ace hoop newly crowned as the World’s Best Jockey, edging out Ryan Moore, and is back in Perth for a second straight week after the Railway on favourite, Light Infantry Man.
Archibald says Lady Laguna is going well since arriving in Perth and if at her best she’s a legitimate threat in the Winterbottom Stakes.
“She’s good and has had a couple of nice pieces of work,” Archibald said on TABradio.
“I can’t fault her and hopefully she can bounce back after she was obviously disappointing down the straight in Melbourne.
“She’s going to have to be at her very best and Overpass is also in good order.
“She’ll have to be right at her top, but she should run a big race.”
Bjorn Baker’s Overpass is looking to continue his unbeaten association in Perth and claim a slice of Winterbottom Stakes history.
Overpass has won all three races he’s contested in WA: last year’s Winterbottom and Perth’s richest race, The Quokka (1200m) twice.
The last horse to win the Winterbottom Stakes in consecutive years was Hardrada for trainer Lou Luciani and jockey, Jason Whiting.
Overpass and Lady Laguna will be joined by Maharba as the three-pronged eastern states representation in the Winterbottom Stakes.
Maharba, trained by Grahame Begg, travelled west after winning the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
Luke Fernie, who had Ripcord finish third to Overpass 12-months ago, can go better with Bravo Centurion, Man Crush and Laced Up Heels.
Bravio Centurion has shot to prominence with six straight wins including a feature race double in the Crawford Stakes (1000m) and Prince Of Wales Stakes (1000m).
Top jockey Chris Parnham sticks with the four-year-old speedster, who warmed up for his Winterbottom assault by winning a Lark Hill trial over 950m.
Crippalenko will go around at big odds, but trainer Greg Beauglehold says the son of Maschino will run better than what most will expect.
“I’m not a trainer going around to make up the numbers,” Beauglehold said.
“This is a dream for me to be in a Group 1.
“He’s in form and you have to be in it to win it.”
Before Tuesday’s barrier draw, Overpass is the $3 favourite ahead of Western Empire ($5) with Lady Laguna next at $5.50.
