Bowditch: Viddora deserves Everest shot after her stunning Winterbottom Stakes success

JOE Bowditch believes Viddora, Australia’s latest Group 1 graduate, deserves a crack at The Everest at Royal Randwick next October.

Connections of horse "Viddora" ridden by jockey Joe Bowditch wins Race 7, the Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot in Western Australia. Picture: Simon Merritt / Western Racepix.

JOE Bowditch believes Viddora, Australia’s latest Group 1 graduate, deserves a crack at The Everest.

The luckless mare banished the lingering depression around frustrating Melbourne spring near-misses with emphatic Winterbottom Stakes victory.

And, based on the Adelaide sprinter’s dominance, Bowditch insists Viddora is worthy of a slot in the nation’s richest race.

“I think she’s right up to The Everest,” Bowditch said. “She’s right up there with the best sprinters.

“I think she’s right up there in the ranks. She’s beaten a lot of those horses that are right up the top.”

Bowditch pointed to Viddora’s exasperating run of Group 1 close shaves as evidence of her quality.

Connections of Viddora after she won Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot. Picture: Simon Merritt

Since winning the Irwin Stakes at Morphettville in April, she has finished second in the Sangster Stakes, second in the Moir Stakes and fourth in the Manikato Stakes.

“Take her Moir form, She Will Reign only just got here and we were probably bit unlucky and we carried 6.5kg more,” Bowditch said.

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“She’s top class and she proved that here in the Winterbottom.”

Viddora’s deserved breakthrough presented trainer Lloyd Kennewell with his first Group 1 scalp and Bowditch’s first since Hard To Get won the 2004 South Australian Derby.

Elevated to Group 1 status in 2011, the Winterbottom’s recent honour roll includes Buffering and Ortensia (twice each) and Takeover Target.

Viddora and Joe Bowditch stretch their rivals in the Group 1 Perth sprint. Picture: Simon Merritt

Kennewell said Viddora would have a few days off before returning to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions.

“She’ll have three of four days at home and then head up there to the Gold Coast for either the sprint or the mares race,” he said.

“Her form has been nearly unbeatable in great races. To get a Group 1 is just sensational.

“We knew it was gonna happen, it was just a matter of time.

Viddora and Joe Bowditch return to scale. Picture: Simon Merritt

“Maybe it can be the leg up that I need. We were already going well but hopefully that opens the door for more.”

Tom Dabernig said runner-up Fuhryk would return to Lindsay Park for a short spell.

“She ran really well,” he said.

“She’ll have a short break now and we’ll look at races like the Oakleigh Plate and then possibly the Sangster Stakes in Adelaide.

“Our horses tend to travel well across to Perth and then come back well.

“Sheidel came back and won an Oakleigh Plate.”

Santa Ana Lane finished sixth, beaten three lengths.

Originally published as Bowditch: Viddora deserves Everest shot after her stunning Winterbottom Stakes success