Elite Street Surges to Winterbottom Score

A decision by jockey Brad Rawiller to test the waters in Perth ahead of a full-time move to Western Australia has paid dividends at just his second weekend in the state, taking out the Nov. 28 Crown Perth Winterbottom Stakes (G1) with Elite Street at Ascot.

Sent out at 30-1 in a race dominated by multiple group 1 winner Trekking, the Dan Morton-prepared Elite Street had few admirers as he stepped up to stakes company for the first time at just his eighth start.

It was just a year ago, on the Winterbottom Stakes undercard, that the chestnut made his first racecourse appearance, finishing fourth to We've Got Dreams in the Tourism WA Trophy for 3-year-olds. It was later discovered that he had chipped both knees in running.

Returning for his second start in late May at Pinjarra as an odds-on favorite, he again finished fourth, but that was the last time he wasn't first past the post. Since June, between Belmont and Ascot, Elite Street has put together a string of six wins, although he was subsequently disqualified from a Belmont 1200-meter win in July having tested positive for Heptaminol.

And so it was that he entered with a picket fence, marred by a D in the form guide but still clearly a horse with plenty of upside.

Jumping from a wide gate, Elite Street was quickly away but was restrained by Rawiller to sit midfield, three deep but with cover. Meanwhile, to his inside, Trekking was enduring a torrid run, with William Pike struggling to bring him back underneath him.

Sitting quiet as a church mouse, Rawiller kept Elite Street out of trouble as the race developed inside him, waiting until the field had straightened and he was widest of all before asking for more from his charge.

With momentum on his side, Elite Street bounded up with purpose alongside 11-year-old marvel Rock Magic, with the pair coming away at the 100 meters. On this occasion, youth trumped experience as Elite Street put a margin on Rock Magic shortly after.

However, one last challenge was still to come. Celebrity Queen, the Colonel Reeves Stakes (G3) winner, had sluiced through between runners from well back before switching over Elite Street's heels to make one final bid. The margin to Celebrity Queen at the wire was a neck, with a length back to Rock Magic, who filled third in the Winterbottom for the third time at his fifth run in the race.

Just like last year, Trekking finished fourth, running on solidly from well back but also clearly outsprinted by Celebrity Queen.

Bred and raced by Robert and Ann Anderson's Anita Vale Stud in partnership with Morton's parents, Len and Annette, Elite Street was retained to race after he was withdrawn from the 2018 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale with knee issues.

In case there were any doubts, a Frankie Dettori-style star jump from the gelding proved just how much it meant to the 42-year-old Rawiller, whose most famous interaction with Morton before the Winterbottom was in relegating his stable star Scenic Blast to second aboard Weekend Hussler in the 2007 Age Caulfield Guineas (G1).

“It’s come as a bit of a shock to me,” Rawiller said. “I was riding for Lindsey Smith at Bendigo one Wednesday, and I hadn’t ridden for him in Victoria since Black Heart Bart. The next day, he said, ‘Look, Brad, I think there’s an opportunity for you if you can come over to Perth and give it a trial for a couple of months.’ Since I’ve been here, I’ve ridden work almost every morning for Dan. … I’ve known Dan for years, but I’ve never really ridden for him.

"The Winterbottom is one of the great sprint races in Australia, so to get the opportunity is huge, and when you can deliver, even better.”

Elite Street gives Morton his first success at the highest level since 2011.

"I'm trying not to bawl. It's very special," an emotional Morton said, joining his father as a Winterbottom Stakes-winning trainer. "It's unreal to win it for Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, who have been huge supporters for us all along the way, and Mum and Dad, obviously."

Len Morton, who won the Winterbottom as a trainer in 1998 with Bradson (Serheed), added: "You always like to think you've left something behind, don't you? I'm so proud of Dan. He's done a great job since he's taken over my license—it's all there for people to see. To come out and win a race for the family like that, it's great."

Elite Street took his earnings to $719,080 (US$533,808) with five victories from eight starts.