LIBERTAD ROCKS WINTERBOTTOM

Sydney sprinter upstages Perth’s adopted son Overpass, local hero Jokers Grin in Gl

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Libertad (Jamie Mott, grey cap) sneaking up on the inside to stun crowd favourite and fellow Sydneysider Overpass (Josh Parr, blue cap) by a half-head in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1,200m) at Ascot on Nov 29.

(WESTERN RACEPIX)

The A$1.5 million (S$1.27 million) Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1,200m) saw an unheralded third party in Libertad lower the colours of the two main protagonists at Ascot on Nov 29.

The Sydney raider’s stunning upset in one of Perth’s top Group 1 races stole the spotlight, denying Overpass a historic third crown and setting the stage for an intriguing Gold Rush showdown on Dec 13.

The Winterbottom, the second of three Group 1s during Perth’s Pinnacles Racing Carnival, had shaped for some time as a race between Ascot’s adopted son Overpass, also hailing from Sydney, and feelgood story and hometown hero Jokers Grin, the favourite and second favourite respectively.

The market gravitated strongly to Overpass on the predicted map, suggesting the Bjorn Baker-trained speedster was likely to lead and dictate the pace.